I Will Repay · Chapter
Paris: 1793 explained
In the midst of the Reign of Terror, the enigmatic Citizen Déroulède remains inexplicably popular and immune from prosecution.
What happens
In the midst of the Reign of Terror, the enigmatic Citizen Déroulède remains inexplicably popular and immune from prosecution. The chapter depicts the squalid, dangerous streets of Paris, where a young girl deliberately provokes a mob of harridans outside Déroulède's house. After being assaulted and nearly torn apart, she is rescued by Déroulède, who drags her inside to safety.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Revolution
The mob's hatred of the young girl's aristocratic appearance and the squalor of the sansculottes highlight class conflict.
Mob Mentality and Populism
The crowd's frenzy, provoked by the girl's defiance, demonstrates the volatile, violent populism of the Revolution.
Honor and Duty
Déroulède's rescue of the girl and his quiet, principled stance amid chaos reflect a sense of duty and honor.
Characters to notice
- Paul Déroulède
A popular and seemingly immune deputy; rescues the young girl from the mob.
- Juliette de Marny
The young girl who deliberately provokes the mob and is rescued by Déroulède.
- Anne Mie
The orphaned cousin living with Déroulède and his mother; seldom goes out.
- Madame Déroulède
Déroulède's mother; cares for Anne Mie and hardly ever leaves her room.
- Marat
Dead Marat; his saying that Déroulède 'is not dangerous' is cited as a reason for his immunity.
- Marie Antoinette
The wretched Queen still lingering in the Temple with her children.
- Foucquier-Tinville
The Prosecutor; mentioned as the one from whom the Scarlet Pimpernel snatches victims.
- Sir Percy Blakeney
The mysterious Scarlet Pimpernel who has saved many aristocrats from Tinville.
Key passages
“It would have been very difficult to say why Citizen Déroulède was quite so popular as he was.”
Déroulède's popularity is mysterious and hard to explain.
Sets up the enigma of Déroulède's immunity.
“Dead Marat was more powerful than his living presentment had been.”
Marat's influence grew after his death.
Explains the lasting power of Marat's words.
“The most seething time of that seething revolution.”
This was the most turbulent period of the Revolution.
Emphasizes the extreme danger of the era.
“It seemed positive madness to provoke a quarrel singlehanded against this noisy group of excited females, just home from the ghastly spectacle around the guillotine.”
It was insane to deliberately antagonize a mob fresh from the executions.
Highlights the girl's reckless defiance.