Savrola · Chapter
The Return of the Fleet explained
Admiral de Mello returns with the fleet and bombards the city after the rebels refuse to surrender Savrola.
What happens
Admiral de Mello returns with the fleet and bombards the city after the rebels refuse to surrender Savrola. The Committee of Public Safety debates whether to execute military prisoners as hostages, ultimately voting to do so despite Savrola's opposition. Savrola secretly arranges to send the prisoners to the frontier by train.
Themes in this chapter
The Cost and Futility of Violence
The bombardment and the threat to execute prisoners highlight the brutal consequences of revolutionary violence.
Betrayal and Loyalty
Miguel's secret hatred for Savrola and the Socialist delegate's proposal to sacrifice Savrola illustrate internal betrayals within the revolutionary movement.
The Power and Volatility of the Crowd
The Committee's vote to execute prisoners reflects the crowd's potential for cruelty and the leaders' fear of mob violence.
Characters to notice
- Savrola
Leads the Committee of Public Safety, opposes executing prisoners, secretly orders their release and transport to the frontier.
- Admiral de Mello
Returns with the fleet, bombards the city, demands Savrola's surrender.
- Miguel
Secretary to Savrola, writes the order for prisoner transport, secretly hates Savrola.
- Godoy
Committee member who breaks silence and declares the matter settled.
- Renos
Supports Savrola on legal grounds regarding the prisoners.
- Karl Kreutze
Mentioned as a former ally of the Socialist delegate who proposes Savrola's surrender.
Key passages
“It is impossible that this can go on. Are we become barbarians in a morning?”
Savrola protests that the Committee's decision to execute prisoners is barbaric and unacceptable.
Savrola's moral objection to the hostage plan.
“They are soldiers; they must give their lives if necessary. No prisoner should allow his friends to be compromised on his account.”
Savrola predicts that Admiral de Mello will refuse to negotiate under threat, as soldiers expect to die rather than compromise their cause.
Savrola's understanding of military honor.