The Aspirations of Jean Servien

"The Aspirations of Jean Servien" by Anatole France is a story set in the late 1800s. It tells about Jean Servien, a young boy born into a family with not much money, and his big hopes for a better future where he finds both success and love. At the start of the story, we see Jean's early years and how his mother wished for him to do great things. When she passes away, Jean is brought up by his father and aunt, who don't always agree on what's important in life. As Jean gets older, he learns a lot from school, a strange teacher, and even the exciting world of acting. He especially starts to dream big when he falls for a lovely actress named Gabrielle. The beginning shows us the ideas of dreams, wanting more in life, and how different social classes can be, all while Jean is trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs.