In "Boule de Suif," hypocrisy as a theme is present in the contrast between the public virtue of the other travelers which is situational as opposed to the private morality of the prostitute, which is constant.
The public virtue of those representing well-to-do society is displayed as they play their roles in the coach:
These six people occupied the farther end of the coach, and represented Society - with an income - the strong, established society of good people with religion and principle.
The women decide that they should join together in their disdain for the courtesan by forming a "united front of marital dignity in front of this shameless harlot," refusing to talk to her, while the men became a fraternity by dint of their money. Thus, the other travelers snub the Dumpling as they ride in the coach toward LeHavre. However, when the coach becomes stuck in the snow and there is nowhere for them to obtain a meal, the "offended" ladies and the gentlemen decide to become "democratic" toward the Dumpling after they discover that she has a basket of chicken and other delights. The Dumpling kindly shares her food. The others hypocritically abandon their public principles for the satisfaction of their stomachs.
As they eat, the group warms to the Dumpling; they even applaud her bravery in attacking a Prussian who forced his way into her home at the beginning of the occupation. She tells them that she would have succeeded in slitting his throat had she not been grabbed by the hair. Afterwards, she was forced to hide, and try to make her escape. Then "[S]he rose in the esteem of her companions," and they decide that they are all brothers and sisters under the present circumstances.
When the coach is able to be again pulled along, the others feel
...drawn closely to this dignified prostitute, whose views so closely coincided with their own.
However, this convivial feeling soon changes when the coach is arrested and not permitted to travel any farther until the desires of the Prussian officer, who demands the services of the Dumpling, are met. With her private virtue intact, the courtesan has refused this enemy officer just as she has refused the other Prussian, and for a while some of the passengers defend her in this refusal. But, after some days pass, there is little conversation as the well-to-do are in deep, private thought:
They were almost angry with the courtesan for not having gone to the Prussian in secret, and given her companions a nice surprise in the morning.
With the well-to-do group's public virtue again altered, Madam Loiseau is heard referring to the Dumpling as "that miserable woman," and the other women and she huddle together in their plan of attack. Finally, after it becomes apparent that the Prussian is adamant in his demand, the Dumpling sacrifices her private virtue and allows the Prussian officer to enter her chamber at night so that she and the others can proceed on their journey. The next day, instead of gratitude, the Dumpling learns that the other passengers feel indignation toward her, which they base upon the present context of the situation. Now, they all turn away as though they have not seen her. The Count takes his wife's arm and removes her from "such sullied contact." Moreover, they even refuse to share their food with her, having hypocritically condemned her as a prostitute rather than a patriot who has made self-sacrifice.
Unlike the Dumpling, who possesses a private virtue which she does not compromise on her own, the others in the coach are hypocritical since their public virtue is situational and only self-serving.
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