Story of the Eye

An unnamed young man embarks on a tumultuous relationship with his cousin Simone, igniting a journey into unrestrained passion. Their connection is initiated through a daring act that combines humor and audacity, ultimately laying the foundation for their controversial love affair.

A dare leads to an unexpected, intimate moment where Simone’s bare bottom is placed in a cat's dish of milk. This initial escapade opens the doors to a series of increasingly risqué behaviors that push their boundaries and challenge societal norms.

As the relationship deepens, the young couple roped their friend Marcelle into their bold escapades. Together, they become embroiled in actions that spiral into a public spectacle, which catches the critical eye of Simone’s widowed mother.

Simone develops a peculiar fixation with soft-boiled eggs, incorporating them into her intimate life. This obsession leads to a string of bizarre incidents, highlighting the extremes of her and the narrator's venture into forbidden pleasures.

The escalating exhibitionist behaviors culminate in a chaotic sadomasochistic party, which leaves Marcelle emotionally shattered. This tragicomic event is a turning point that starkly represents the dark consequences of their reckless indulgences.

Faced with unraveling family dynamics, the narrator resorts to stealing money and a weapon from his father. This desperate act sets the stage for a harrowing escape alongside Simone as they flee the chaos surrounding them.

The discovery of Marcelle's lifeless body in a psychiatric hospital marks a heartbreaking moment for the narrator and Simone. This tragic turn of events weighs heavily on them as they grapple with the implications of their lifestyle choices.

Terrified and seeking freedom, Simone and the narrator escape to Spain, leaving behind the aftershocks of their prior behavior. Here they encounter Sir Edmund, a charismatic English aristocrat who introduces them to a world of hedonistic extremes.

Sir Edmund shares captivating tales of bizarre cultural traditions, including a gruesome ritual involving bull's testicles. This shocking practice fuels Simone's curiosity, driving the group deeper into debauchery.

The trio witnesses the infamous matador El Granero in a chilling display of bullfighting, which ends in a violent and bloody conclusion. Simone's fixation on the macabre leads her to demand the raw testicles to be presented to her during this shocking event.

In an unexpected twist, Simone seduces a striking priest within a Catholic basilica through a frenzied act that intertwines lust and spirituality. This act lays bare the depths of their depravity and the blurred lines between sacred and profane.

While Simone engages with the priest, Sir Edmund's obsession takes a disturbing turn as he mocks the sacrament by contaminating it with the priest's bodily fluids. This act of sacrilege drives home the depths of their moral decay.

In a stark culmination of their vile desires, Simone strangles the priest at the height of his ecstasy, claiming his eye in a grotesque act of possession. This shocking act underscores the depths of her depravity and obsession.

With the weight of their heinous crimes haunting them, Simone and the narrator board a yacht bound for Africa, seeking to indulge in their liberated lifestyle without societal limitations. This journey symbolizes their continuous flight from accountability.

Bataille subtly intertwines his personal life into the narrative, revealing Marcelle's character as influenced by his mother's struggles with mental illness. The narrator's tumultuous relationship with his father further blurs the line between fiction and biography.