XIV: The Pigeons of Dort explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Love and Devotion

  Rosa's devotion leads her to secure a transfer to Loewestein to be near Cornelius, and Cornelius's love for Rosa is evident in his joy at her arrival.

• Obsession and Ambition

  Cornelius's obsession with his tulip bulbs persists even in prison, as he devises a plan to communicate via pigeons.

• Injustice and Persecution

  Cornelius is unjustly imprisoned for life, reflecting the persecution of innocent individuals.

Characters to notice

• Cornelius van Baerle

  Imprisoned at Loewestein, he uses pigeons to send a message to his nurse and is overjoyed when Rosa appears at his cell.

• Rosa Gryphus

  Having secured a transfer for her father, she visits Cornelius in prison, expressing her affection.

• Gryphus

  Rosa's father, who is becoming the jailer at Loewestein and follows Rosa up the staircase.

• Isaac Boxtel

  Mentioned as having abandoned his pigeons, which later came into the possession of Cornelius's nurse.

• Grotius

  The learned master who formerly occupied the same cell and escaped via a book-chest.

• William of Orange

  The Prince of Orange, who granted Rosa's request for her father's transfer.

Key passages

• “It was indeed in itself a great honour for Cornelius van Baerle to be confined in the same prison which had once received the learned master Grotius.”

  Cornelius considered it an honor to be imprisoned in the same place as the famous scholar Grotius.

  Highlights the historical significance of the prison.

• “Van Baerle, from whose thoughts the three bulbs were never absent, made a snare for catching the pigeons...”

  Cornelius, always thinking about his three tulip bulbs, set a trap to catch pigeons.

  Shows his persistent obsession with the bulbs.

• “Oh, Rosa, Rosa!”

  Cornelius cried out in joy upon seeing Rosa.

  Expresses his overwhelming emotion at her arrival.