Seasonal Flowers by André Maurois"Life is not like that... The seasons return every year, each with their own flowers." As this quote from “Flowers of the Season,” a short story by André Maurois, shows, changing seasons and changes in life are the key ideas. The title alone gives an indication of what this story is about; different seasons produce different flowers, which implies a change of seasons in this story. In this story, the stages of a person's life are compared to the changing seasons, two people and their losses and the tragedy that has taken over their lives. Etienne and Gabrielle, both tragically widowed at a young age, lived in their past and began to discover hope for a new future in each other. Both Etienne and Gabrielle are completely consumed by their past, and the past is their focus. . “He would have replied that he would come every Thursday until the day he died, that he hoped he would not be too far away.” (Maurois p.301).Etienne's grief and loss completely dominated his thoughts, and even his actions were influenced by a deceased person. “Each time he brought different flowers, showing as much imagination to charm the dead as he once had to please the living.” (Maurois p.302). In his heart, she was alive and well and part of his daily routine. Even when he began sharing a taxi from the cemetery with Gabrielle, he was hesitant to think about their late spouse's feelings about such an action. “That would be better… But they-you think they would approve?” (Maurois p..309).