The Deluge · Chapter
Chapter XV explained
Prince Yanush Radzivill, after a long consultation with the voevoda of Venden and Swedish envoys, faces the consequences of his treaty with Karl Gustav.
What happens
Prince Yanush Radzivill, after a long consultation with the voevoda of Venden and Swedish envoys, faces the consequences of his treaty with Karl Gustav. His plan to announce it during a feast backfires as most nobles and officers protest, calling him a traitor. He fears losing his army and significance, and in his turmoil, he tries to persuade Andrei Kmita to support his cause, revealing his grand ambitions for Lithuania and his house.
Themes in this chapter
- Political Intrigue
Radzivill's secret treaty with the Swedes, his manipulation of the feast announcement, and his desperate calculations to maintain power highlight the theme of political maneuvering and betrayal.
- Honor and Betrayal
The nobles' accusation of 'Traitor!' and Radzivill's internal conflict between his conscience and his ambition underscore the tension between personal honor and political betrayal.
- National Identity and Resistance
The opposition of Lithuanian nobles and squadrons to Radzivill's Swedish alliance reflects the struggle over national identity and resistance to foreign domination.
Characters to notice
- Yanush Radzivill
The grand hetman and voevoda of Vilna, deeply troubled by the opposition to his treaty with the Swedes, grappling with fears of abandonment and infamy, and attempting to win Kmita to his side.
- Andrei Kmita
A young, bold knight whom Radzivill sees as a potential key adherent; he listens to the prince's grand plans but is overwhelmed and uncertain.
- Prince Boguslav Radzivill
Mentioned as a potential ally whose regiments and the Elector of Brandenburg could support Yanush Radzivill's cause.
- Karl Gustav
The Swedish king, central to Radzivill's treaty and plans; Radzivill hopes to use Swedish power to secure his own ambitions.
- Yan Kazimir
The Polish king, whom Radzivill considers leaving for Karl Gustav; mentioned as the monarch the country might retain or abandon.
- Kryshtofek Sapyeha
The voevoda of Vityebsk, a formidable opponent of the Radzivills, to whom many rebellious squadrons might defect.
- Pan Kharlamp
An old, worn-out soldier mentioned as one of the few Polish adherents who responded to Radzivill, but of limited influence.
- Pontus de la Gardie
Karl Gustav's field-marshal and brother-in-law, with whom the treaty was concluded, representing Swedish authority.
Key passages
“Abandonment, poverty, judgment, and infamy!”
Radzivill's conscience torments him with fears of being deserted, impoverished, condemned, and disgraced.
This recurring whisper reflects the prince's deep anxiety about the consequences of his actions.
“Who here dares to oppose his will?”
Radzivill rages internally against those who defy his authority.
Shows the oligarch's fury at the rebellion against his plans.
“I give this country to the Swedes so as to stop with Swedish arms another enemy, to drive him beyond the boundaries, to win back what is lost, and force with the sword a treaty from that enemy in his own capital.”
Radzivill justifies his alliance with Sweden as a means to use their military power to defeat other foes and reclaim lost territories.
Part of his persuasive speech to Kmita, revealing his strategic rationale.
“I will build anew all this edifice, now tumbling to ruins; I will make it stronger than ever.”
Radzivill vows to reconstruct the Commonwealth under his house, making it more powerful than before.
Highlights his grand ambition for a new dynasty.
