# Conclusion explained — Penguin Island

> Chapter companion for Penguin Island by Anatole France.

## What happens

The appeal is allowed and Pyrot is brought down, but the Anti-Pyrotists secure a second conviction through Greatauk's cunning. Maniflore attempts to stab Greatauk but is thwarted; he magnanimously secures her release. Justice Chaussepied quashes the second conviction, rehabilitating Pyrot again. The Republicans turn against the clergy, expelling monks and confiscating church property. Father Cornemuse loses his lucrative liqueur business, Father Agaric goes into exile, and the Church withers. The victorious Pyrotists fall to infighting; wealthy Jews and Pyrotists abandon socialist allies. Comrade Larrivée becomes Premier and defends the military tribunals, opposing social reforms. The Republic remains subservient to financial interests. Bidault-Coquille, abandoned by Maniflore, reflects bitterly on his own naivety and the futility of his idealism.

## Themes in this chapter

### Political Corruption and Oligarchy

Greatauk's manipulation of the military justice system; the Republic's subservience to financial companies; the rich avoiding taxes while the poor pay.

### Hypocrisy of Morality and Sexuality

Maniflore's violent devotion to justice contrasted with Greatauk's chivalrous disarming; the Pyrotists' abandonment of socialist allies after victory.

### Human Folly and Vanity

Bidault-Coquille's self-reflection on his own pride and naivety; the infighting among the victorious defenders of Pyrot.

## Character check-ins

### Pyrot

Appeal allowed; brought down from cage; retried and convicted again, then rehabilitated by Chaussepied.

### General Greatauk

Obtains second conviction by suppressing evidence; disarms Maniflore's attack with courtesy; secures her release.

### Maniflore

Attempts to stab Greatauk with a kitchen knife; is arrested but released; later leaves Bidault-Coquille for a young Bulgarian.

### Chaussepied

Justice who quashes the second conviction and rehabilitates Pyrot, enraged with military judges.

### Father Cornemuse

Driven from the Wood of Conils; his stills and liqueur bottles confiscated; loses annual income of three and a half million francs.

### Bidault-Coquille

Abandoned by Maniflore; reflects on his own naivety and the futility of his idealism; returns to his asteroids with modesty.

## Key lines

> The appeal was allowed, and Pyrot was brought down from his cage.

The court granted the appeal, and Pyrot was released from his imprisonment.

_Opening of the chapter; Pyrot's initial release._

> He could not prevent the heroine from being taken to the police station; but he had her immediately released and afterwards he employed all his influence to stop the prosecution.

Greatauk could not stop Maniflore's arrest, but he used his influence to secure her prompt release and halt any legal action against her.

_Greatauk's magnanimous handling of Maniflore's assassination attempt._

> The second conviction of Pyrot was Greatauk’s last victory.

Greatauk's success in securing Pyrot's second conviction proved to be his final triumph.

_Turning point; Greatauk's subsequent defeat by Chaussepied._

> Separated from its foster mother, the State, the Church of Penguinia withered like a plucked flower.

Without state support, the Penguinian Church decayed rapidly, like a flower cut from its stem.

_Metaphor for the decline of the church after separation from the state._

> You considered yourself sublime when you had but candour and goodwill.

You thought yourself magnificent simply because you were honest and well-meaning.

_Bidault-Coquille's self-critical reflection on his own vanity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/xi-conclusion
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters