Fools | May

While "April Fools" is the standard tradition, there are niche historical and literary references to "May Fools":

: 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. May Fools

: 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 While "April Fools" is the standard tradition, there

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. : As the relatives arrive, they are less

: 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.

: 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.