DiotimosReading Desk

Fashion

Clothes, coat and religious habit

habit

Habit denotes clothing or a coat, and in Longuemare’s account a distinctive religious habit.

From the book

The Gods Are Athirst

Anatole France · Diotimos Editions · 2026

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Meaning

Lemma.

Habit denotes clothing or a coat, and in Longuemare’s account a distinctive religious habit. Leaving that habit is outward accommodation, not evidence that he has renounced faith. His argument with Brotteaux turns on what clothes reveal: even secular garments can preserve an austere religious appearance. Gamelin’s blue habit is simply his coat.

Places to read

  1. Chapter VI, paragraph 35Frenchun habit séculier: Secular clothes. Longuemare explains what he was forced to wear.
  2. Chapter VI, paragraph 39FrenchJ’ai quitté mon habit: I took off my habit. He calls this a kind of apostasy.
  3. Chapter VII, paragraph 37Frenchson habit bleu: His blue coat. Gamelin dresses to accompany Rochemaure.