"My Uncle Jules": Never Test Human Nature When you succeed, everyone flocks to y

Click here to read the book

"My Uncle Jules," a timeless classic by Guy de Maupassant—often hailed as the master of the short story—has been a staple in literature textbooks for generations.

Told through a child’s perspective, the story traces the shifting attitudes of the Philippe family toward Uncle Jules. In his youth, Jules squandered the family fortune and was branded a "bad luck charm," eventually sent away to the Americas.

Years later, a letter arrived: Jules claimed he’d struck it rich. Overnight, the family’s resentment turned to eager anticipation. They awaited his return like a lifeline, pinning their hopes on his promised wealth.

But hope soon soured into dread. When they finally crossed paths with Jules again, they pretended not to know him.

Some condemn the Philippes as heartless snobs—willing to sacrifice family for money. Others argue their actions were understandable: Survival can blur moral lines when life presses down.

Yet Maupassant’s aim wasn’t to judge his characters. Through their story, he exposes a society poisoned by greed, the harsh realities of poverty, and the unsettling complexity of human nature.

This tale reminds us: Never test human nature.
When you’re up, the world flocks to you.
When you’re down, the world can’t look away fast enough.

01 Don’t Bet Your Hopes on Others

Growing up in Le Havre, my father’s earnings barely kept us afloat.
My mother, bitter about our poverty, constantly lashed out at him.
We never accepted dinner invites—too poor to return the favor. Bargain bins were our only shopping destination. A lost button or torn pants meant a scolding.

Yet every Sunday, we’d dress in our best for walks along the seaside jetty.
We were waiting for my uncle Jules.

In his youth, Jules had squandered Grandfather’s fortune—even dipping into my father’s inheritance. The family shipped him off to the Americas.

Then came a letter: Jules struck gold in business! He promised to repay my father handsomely.
Overnight, the "black sheep" became the "honorable Jules." His return became our family’s lifeline.

Every Sunday, watching ships approach, Father would murmur:
"If only Jules were on that vessel—what a blessing that’d be!"
Mother echoed: "Once Jules returns, everything will change."
They even dreamed of buying a villa with his money.

Ten years passed. No more letters.
Certainty faded into thin air.

Life plays cruel tricks sometimes.
The heavier the expectations we place on others, the deeper the disappointment cuts.
Some parents stake everything on their child getting into a top university.
Some spouses expect partners to magically deliver wealth.
Some elders bank entirely on children for their retirement.

But reality rarely bends to our dreams.
As written in No Longer Human**:
"Without wild hope, there’d be no crushing despair."
Lower your expectations. Bet on yourself—not others. That’s where true freedom begins.

---

02 Poverty Is Invisible; Wealth Attracts Crowds

Before my sister’s wedding, we took a trip to Jersey Island.
There, Father spotted two elegant ladies eating oysters. Inspired, he offered to buy us some—though Mother only let my sisters indulge.

As Father and I approached the ragged oyster-seller, he froze.
"That man... he looks like Jules," he whispered to Mother.
She scoffed until she saw for herself.

The truth hit like ice water:
The wrinkled, grimy old man was Jules.

Mother trembled with rage. She sent Father to confirm with the captain—who revealed Jules had gone bankrupt.

"I knew that wastrel would crawl back to ruin us!" Mother hissed. "Pay him and let’s flee—before that beggar recognizes us!"

The whiplash was brutal:
"Honorable Jules" when rich; "Good-for-nothing Jules" when poor.
Blood ties shattered against the rocks of self-interest.

This isn’t fiction—it’s life.
When diver Quan Hongchan won Olympic gold, distant relatives materialized overnight—demanding "loans" of 300,000 yuan.
Her mother sighed: "Since when did we have so many kin?"

Author Liu Zhenyun nailed it:
"When poor, don’t seek friends; when struggling, don’t chase family. Blood ties are often just transactional. Wake up."

Interest is the acid test of any relationship.
See this clearly, and you’ll stop expecting much from people.
Live your truth. Let connections breathe.

---

03 Between Two Worlds: The Immigrant’s Dilemma

Jules’ life after bankruptcy was harsh.
Too ashamed to face family, he scraped by doing grueling work—a ghost in his own life.

His story mirrors modern migrants:
Young people flooding into cities, dreaming of glory days before returning home triumphant.
But survival is brutal. Years later, many find empty pockets—and no road back.

When I handed Jules five francs, his calloused hands made my throat tighten.
This was my uncle—my father’s brother.
I slipped him ten francs extra. Tears filled his eyes.

Mother exploded: "Ten francs for that scoundrel? Have you lost your mind?!"
Father silenced her with a look. We switched ships to avoid him.

First reading, we judge the parents harshly.
But rereading brings empathy:
They were drowning in poverty. Their daughter’s marriage hinged on Jules’ phantom wealth.
Acknowledging him would’ve shattered Jules’ pride—and their fragile stability.

Sometimes, in adulthood’s harsh light, walking away is the kindest choice.