Gil Blas · Chapter
VII explained
Gil Blas, unable to escape his captivity among the banditti, decides to feign contentment and adopt their way of life.
What happens
Gil Blas, unable to escape his captivity among the banditti, decides to feign contentment and adopt their way of life. He plays the hypocrite so well that the robbers, including Captain Rolando, come to admire his wit and joviality. After six months, he is accepted as a member of the gang and allowed to join them on a highway robbery, marking his first step toward freedom.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Appearance
Gil Blas deliberately plays the hypocrite, pretending to embrace the robbers' life to secure his eventual escape.
Fortune and Fate
Gil Blas's fortunes shift as he uses his wits to navigate captivity, waiting for the right moment to change his fate.
Characters to notice
- Gil Blas
Feigns happiness and adopts the robbers' lifestyle to gain their trust and eventually secure his freedom.
- Captain Rolando
Praises Gil Blas's wit and humor, and proposes that Gil Blas be allowed to join the gang on a robbery.
- Dame Leonarda
Initially deceived by Gil Blas's act; later reinstated as cupbearer when Gil Blas is promoted.
- Diego
Mentioned as Domingo, the ever-watchful robber whom Gil Blas cannot outwit.
Key passages
“Gil Blas, not being able to do what he likes, does what he can.”
Unable to act according to his own desires, Gil Blas makes the best of his circumstances.
Introduces Gil Blas's pragmatic adaptation to his captivity.
“I aimed at looking a little more cheerful; began to laugh and sing, though it was sometimes on the wrong side of my mouth; in a word, I put so good a face on the matter, that Leonarda and Domingo were completely taken in.”
Gil Blas forced himself to appear happy, laughing and singing despite his inner misery, successfully deceiving his captors.
Illustrates Gil Blas's use of deception to gain the robbers' trust.
“I feel that I was born to be your knight companion. I languish to make one among you, and will stand my chance of a halter with the best.”
Gil Blas declares he was meant to be a fellow robber and is eager to join them, even risking the gallows.
Gil Blas's feigned enthusiasm to be accepted into the gang.
“I was impatient beyond measure; for I only aspired after the honors of the sitting, to obtain the liberty of going abroad with the rest; and I was in hopes that by running the risk of getting my neck into one noose I might get it out of another.”
Gil Blas was eager to be allowed to go on robberies, hoping that by risking capture he might eventually escape.
Reveals Gil Blas's true motive: using the gang's activities as a path to freedom.