# XXV explained — The Charterhouse of Parma > Chapter companion for The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal. ## What happens Clelia is thrown into despair upon seeing Fabrizio again in the Torre Farnese, as she has made a vow to the Madonna to marry the Marchese Crescenzi and never see Fabrizio again. Meanwhile, the Duchessa Sanseverina confronts the Prince about the danger of poison to Fabrizio, and the Prince extracts a promise from her in exchange for saving Fabrizio. Fabrizio is eventually acquitted and installed in a fine office, but remains profoundly melancholy despite his honors and position. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Passion Clelia's internal conflict between her love for Fabrizio and her vow to the Madonna; Fabrizio's return to prison solely to see her. ### Power and Politics The Prince's manipulation of the Duchessa's desperation to secure a promise from her; the political machinations surrounding Fabrizio's imprisonment and acquittal. ### Sacrifice and Redemption Clelia's vow to sacrifice her love for Fabrizio as a promise to the Madonna; the Duchessa's willingness to sacrifice herself to save Fabrizio. ## Character check-ins ### Clelia Conti Despairing over her vow to the Madonna and her love for Fabrizio; she faints upon seeing him and later flees, reaffirming her vow never to see him again. ### Fabrizio del Dongo Returns to prison to see Clelia; later acquitted and given honors, but remains deeply melancholy and indifferent to his success. ### Duchessa Sanseverina Confronts the Prince about the poison threat to Fabrizio and makes a desperate oath to save him. ### Prince Ranuccio The young Prince negotiates with the Duchessa, demanding a promise in exchange for saving Fabrizio, and later orders General Fontana to fetch Fabrizio. ### General Fontana Aide-de-Camp sent by the Prince to retrieve Fabrizio from the citadel; known for his horsemanship. ### Marchesa del Dongo Visits Fabrizio in Parma and is alarmed by his profound melancholy, suspecting slow poison. ## Key lines > The arrival of our hero threw Clelia into despair: the poor girl, pious and sincere with herself, could not avoid the reflection that there would never be any happiness for her apart from Fabrizio; but she had made a vow to the Madonna, at the time when her father was nearly poisoned, that she would offer him the sacrifice of marrying the Marchese Crescenzi. Clelia was devastated by Fabrizio's return, knowing she could only be happy with him, but she had sworn to the Madonna to marry the Marchese Crescenzi after her father's near-poisoning. _Clelia's internal conflict between love and duty is introduced._ > Clelia looked at Fabrizio, and in spite of herself that look portrayed in full the passion that had thrown her into despair. Despite her resolve, Clelia's gaze revealed her deep love for Fabrizio. _Her involuntary expression of love._ > I swear it, she cried, with a wild look in her eyes. At once the Prince became another man; he ran to the far end of the gallery, where the Aide-de-Camp's room was. The Duchessa swore the oath desperately, and the Prince immediately sprang into action, ordering General Fontana to fetch Fabrizio. _The turning point where the Duchessa's oath secures Fabrizio's rescue._ > Fabrizio would fain have been able to persuade himself that Clelia was shunning him in consequence of her father's disgrace, which current report put down to the Duchessa? but he knew only too well another cause for this aloofness, and nothing could distract him from his melancholy. Fabrizio tried to believe Clelia avoided him because of her father's disgrace, but he knew the real reason was her vow, and he remained deeply sad. _Fabrizio's melancholy despite his acquittal and honors._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_charterhouse_of_parma_se/chapters/xxv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_charterhouse_of_parma_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_charterhouse_of_parma_se/chapters