: The "May Fools" are ultimately the family members themselves—bourgeois individuals who briefly entertain revolutionary ideals only to revert to their petty, self-interested ways once the immediate excitement of the uprising fades. Other "May Fool" Traditions
The story centers on a large, eccentric family that gathers at a country estate in Southern France following the sudden death of the matriarch, Madame Vieuzac. May Fools
While "April Fools" is the standard tradition, there are niche historical and literary references to "May Fools": : The "May Fools" are ultimately the family
: As the relatives arrive, they are less concerned with mourning and more interested in dividing the inheritance—specifically the estate's possessions and a valuable emerald ring. May Fools