Saragossa · Chapter
VI explained
The chapter describes the French assault on the fortified positions of Torrero and the subsequent attack on San José.
What happens
The chapter describes the French assault on the fortified positions of Torrero and the subsequent attack on San José. The defenders, including Augustine and the narrator, observe the battle from the redoubt of Los Mártires. The French initially capture Torrero but are repulsed at San José. The narrative highlights the resilience of the Aragonese people and the strategic errors of the French, who underestimate the defenders' determination. The chapter also depicts the movement of troops towards the suburb and the intense fighting along the Barcelona road, culminating in the French retreat after suffering heavy losses.
Themes in this chapter
Heroic Resistance and Patriotism
The Aragonese defenders' stubborn resistance against the French, despite being outmatched in equipment and numbers, exemplifies heroic patriotism.
War and Dehumanization
The chapter reflects on the dehumanizing nature of war, as soldiers celebrate the death of enemies and the brutal carnage is described in detail.
Survival and Human Endurance
The defenders' ability to endure repeated assaults and continue fighting despite heavy losses highlights human endurance in extreme conditions.
Characters to notice
- Augustine Montoria
Present at the redoubt of Los Mártires, identifies the attacking forces and comments on the battle.
- Don Araceli
The narrator, observes the battle and provides a detailed account of the events.
- Renovales
Mentioned as commanding the troops of Orihuela and Valencia, distinguished in the previous siege.
- Don Pedro Villacampa
Mentioned as leading the volunteers of Huesca in the external battle.
- General Saint March
Commanded the ten thousand men defending Torrero.
Key passages
“It is indeed almost like this: all succumb, all is reduced to powder in front of those walls which might be kicked over. But behind this movable defensive material is the well-tempered steel of Aragón souls, which cannot be broken or bent, nor cast into moulds, nor crushed, nor robbed of breath, and which surrounds the whole region like a barrier, indestructible by human means.”
The walls of Saragossa are flimsy and easily destroyed, but the spirit of the Aragonese people is unbreakable and forms an impenetrable defense.
Highlights the contrast between physical weakness and moral strength.
“It was a veritable struggle between two peoples; and while the fires of the first siege were burning in our hearts, the French came on thirsting for vengeance with all the passion of offended manhood, worse even than the passion of the warrior.”
The battle was a clash of nations, with the Spanish fueled by memories of the first siege and the French driven by a desire for revenge.
Emphasizes the deep-seated animosity and the personal nature of the conflict.