What inspired Flaubert to depict Saint Anthony’s temptations so vividly?
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The Temptation of St. Antony

The Temptation of St. Antony
La discussion entre lecteurs est ouverte maintenant. Il s’agit d’une discussion communautaire.
What inspired Flaubert to depict Saint Anthony’s temptations so vividly?
Did anyone else find the allegorical language as dense as I did, or did it deepen the experience?
How do you interpret the ending — is it a moment of enlightenment or despair?