Gargantua And Pantagruel

Friar Jean is invited to supper and welcomed warmly for his defense of the abbey. The chatty monk jokes around, indulging in a bawdy explanation about why “a damsel’s thighs are always cool” (326): because they are surrounded by water (urine), topped by a dark place (genitalia), and fanned by wind blowing in through the chemise and skirts.

Impressed by Jean’s wisdom, Eudemon wonders why men dislike monks. Gargantua replies it is because monks are lazy and corrupt, but Jean reminds them that he is “never idle” (330). On being asked why some men—like him—have large noses, Jean answers his nose had more room to grow when he was a baby as it was buried in his wet-nurse’s deep cleavage.

After dinner, Gargantua is unable to sleep. Jean asks Gargantua to recite the Seven Psalms with him, which promptly lulls the giant to sleep.

The party rides out to inspect the enemy’s positions after resting. Jean encourages them to be brave, as God and Saint Benedict (the patron saint of fields and farmers) are on the side of the Utopians.

As they ride into a forest, Jean’s helmet gets entangled in a tree and he is left hanging. Gymnaste climbs up the tree and recuses him.

Meanwhile Picrochole, who escaped, is enraged about the defeat of his men. He sends Comte de Rushin for a patrol. Picrochole’s men meet Gargantua and his party and kill Dashon. Jean pursues the men and is taken hostage.

Comte de Rushin bids two archers to guard Jean and turns back toward Gargantua’s party, believing them to have fled. However, Gargantua and his men are hiding and ambush Picrochole’s forces.

Meanwhile, Jean kills his guards and joins Gargantua. Gargantua takes the pilgrims—who had flown out with his urine and joined Picrochole’s men—and Braggart prisoner.

Grandgousier pardons the pilgrims Jean brings back, and bids them to stop “such otiose and useless journeys” (344) or pilgrimages. He sends them off with a horse each and some spending money.

Braggart informs Grandgousier that Picrochole’s aim is to conquer the whole land to avenge his bakers. Grandgousier says the time for such world domination is passed with heroes such as Alexander the Great, and sends him back to Picrochole.

Braggart suggests Picrochole seek peace with Grandgousier. He refuses. Meanwhile, Grandgousier begins to gather his forces.

Gargantua leads his father’s army to battle; Gymnaste advises a quick, sudden attack. Picrochole’s army is defeated. He flees and Gargantua chases him to Vaugaudry before sounding the retreat.

Picrochole flees to L‘Ile-Bouchard. His horse falls on the way and Picrochole kills him in a rage. Grabbing a miller’s donkey and covering himself in a smock, Picrochole disappears and is never seen again.

Showing mercy, Gargantua gives Picrochole’s kingdom to his son in exchange for the councilors who ill-advised Picrochole into war.

Gargantua buries the dead with honor, has the injured treated, and rewards his soldiers with land and gold. The councilors of Picrochole he sets to work in the new printing press in his kingdom.

To reward Jean, Gargantua wants him appointed abbot of Seuilly. When he refuses, Gargantua offers to build him an abbey as per his own design and assigns him his lands in Theleme.

Gargantua grants almost 300,000 gold coins for building the abbey, and more annually for its maintenance. As per Jean’s designs, the abbey is hexagonal in shape, well-lit, and artfully decorated. It is not fenced in, but open.

Above the main gate of the abbey is a lengthy inscription, barring hypocrites, bigots, lawyers, usurers, and other manner of sinners from entering.

Inside the abbey are statues of the Three Graces, fountains, and separate, well-appointed quarters for the men and women.

The nuns and monks dress in elaborate finery; the nuns in sumptuous red, gray, gold, and silver, while the monks wear matching garments of scarlet, black, white, and gray.

Life at Theleme is governed not by laws but by the free will of the individual members. The narrator says people who are free to do as they please naturally aspire toward good acts.

An enigma about God and man’s history is discovered during the digging of the abbey’s foundation; Gargantua believes it is the course and upholding of divine Truth, but Frere Jean insists it is the description of a tennis match.

Chapter 57 refers to two almanacs.