May Fools -

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.

: 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 May Fools

While "April Fools" is the standard tradition, there are niche historical and literary references to "May Fools": The story centers on a large, eccentric family

: While the family feuds, the radio blares news of the "May '68" strikes and student riots in Paris. The revolution eventually reaches their doorstep when local children go on strike and truck drivers arrive with tales of the uprising. The revolution eventually reaches their doorstep when local

: Swept up in the spirit of the era, the family members briefly abandon their greed for a "giddy" afternoon of wine, marijuana, and fantasies of sexual freedom.