Savrola · Chapter
The End of the Quarrel explained
The revolution reaches its climax as President Molara is killed by the mob and Savrola confronts the aftermath, struggling to maintain order and justice amid the chaos.
What happens
The revolution reaches its climax as President Molara is killed by the mob and Savrola confronts the aftermath, struggling to maintain order and justice amid the chaos.
Themes in this chapter
The Cost and Futility of Violence
The brutal killing of Molara and Kreutze illustrates the senseless violence that erupts even after victory, challenging the revolution's moral foundation.
The Power and Volatility of the Crowd
The mob's shifting loyalties—from cheering Savrola to jeering him, then surging in anger—demonstrate the unpredictable and dangerous power of the populace.
Honor, Courage, and Cowardice
Molara's decision to face the crowd with dignity and Sorrento's adherence to military code contrast with the mob's savage execution and Savrola's struggle with his own dark joy.
Characters to notice
- Savrola
Savrola attempts to control the mob after Molara's death, condemns the murder, and orders the officers to prison.
- President Antonio Molara
Molara surrenders himself to the crowd and is shot dead on the palace steps.
- Colonel Sorrento
Sorrento surrenders the palace and government troops to Savrola, sneering at the 'honour of a conspirator.'
- Lieutenant Tiro
Tiro kills Karl Kreutze with his sword after Kreutze attacks Savrola.
- Karl Kreutze
Kreutze executes Molara with a coup de grâce, then is slashed by Savrola and killed by Tiro.
Key passages
“Here I am.”
Molara presents himself to the crowd, accepting his fate.
Molara's final act of defiance and surrender.
“Who has committed this murder?”
Savrola demands to know who killed Molara.
Savrola's horror at the extrajudicial killing.
“It is not a murder; it is an execution.”
Kreutze justifies the killing as a revolutionary act.
The ideological clash between legal process and revolutionary justice.