# XIII: Edouard’s Journal: First Visit to La Pérouse explained — The Counterfeiters > Chapter companion for The Counterfeiters by André Gide. ## What happens Edouard visits the elderly Monsieur de La Pérouse in his new apartment, finding him in a state of physical and emotional decline. La Pérouse expresses his sense of being a dupe—fooled by his wife, his son, and even God—and reveals his deep, unseen love for his grandson Boris. The visit is marked by La Pérouse's reflections on old age, pride, and the tragedy of moral decay. Edouard's journal entries also touch on his unspoken feelings for Olivier and his decision to leave for London. ## Themes in this chapter ### Morality and Corruption La Pérouse's lament that he mistook pride for virtue and feels duped by God highlights the theme of moral self-deception. ### Family and Paternity La Pérouse's hidden love for his grandson Boris and his strained relationship with his wife and son explore familial bonds and estrangement. ### Art and the Novel Edouard reflects on the novel's failure to capture 'moral tragedy,' linking the chapter to broader literary theory. ## Character check-ins ### Edouard Narrator of the journal; visits La Pérouse and reflects on his own feelings for Olivier. ### Monsieur de La Pérouse Aged and distressed; reveals his sense of being duped and his love for his unseen grandson Boris. ### Madame de La Pérouse Mentioned as being stone deaf and in a terrible state, causing strain in the household. ### Little Boris La Pérouse's grandson, living in Poland; deeply loved but unknown to him. ### Olivier Molinier Mentioned in Edouard's later journal entries; Edouard follows him in the street and feels a distant affection. ### Pauline Mentioned as Olivier's mother, who wants him to try for the École Normale. ## Key lines > I’ve only just begun to understand that I have been a dupe during the whole of my life. Madame de La Pérouse has fooled me; my son has fooled me; everybody has fooled me; God has fooled me. La Pérouse realizes he has been deceived by everyone, including God, throughout his life. _Captures his profound disillusionment and sense of betrayal._ > He made me take my pride for virtue. He was laughing at me. It amuses him. I think he plays with us as a cat does with a mouse. La Pérouse believes God tricked him into mistaking pride for virtue, treating humans like toys. _Highlights the theme of moral corruption and religious doubt._ > There is a kind of tragedy, it seems to me, which has hitherto almost entirely eluded literature. The novel has dealt with the contrariness of fate... but not with the very essence of man’s being. Edouard observes that novels have missed the deeper tragedy of human essence, focusing instead on external conflicts. _Reflects Edouard's literary theory and the theme of art and the novel._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xiii-edouard-s-journal-first-visit-to-la-p-rouse - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_counterfeiters_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters