The Wolf-Leader · Chapter
The Lord of Vauparfond explained
Thibault, now wealthy from his dealings with the devil, dines ostentatiously at the Dauphin d'Or inn, seeking to display his superiority.
What happens
Thibault, now wealthy from his dealings with the devil, dines ostentatiously at the Dauphin d'Or inn, seeking to display his superiority. He encounters François, the valet of the Lord of Vauparfond, who is there as a proxy for his master's love affair. They dine together, and Thibault, trying to forget his sorrows, drinks heavily. After François and his companion Champagne leave, Thibault, in a drunken rage, curses his lot and wishes he could take the place of the Lord of Vauparfond for twenty-four hours. As he walks home, the horseman, who is the Lord himself, strikes him with a whip, and Thibault's angry wish seems to take effect as the horse shies and throws its rider.
Themes in this chapter
Class and Power
Thibault's ostentatious display of wealth at the inn contrasts sharply with his subservient position when confronted by the Baron, highlighting the rigid class structure and the limits of his newfound power.
Deal with the Devil
Thibault's wish to take the Baron's place for twenty-four hours, made in a moment of drunken anger, is a direct consequence of his earlier pact with the devil, showing how his desires are now being twisted and granted in dangerous ways.
Jealousy and Obsession
Thibault's envy of the Baron's life, his horse, and his romantic pursuits, coupled with his despair over losing Agnelette, fuels his destructive wish and demonstrates his obsessive nature.
Characters to notice
- Thibault
Dines lavishly at the inn, seeking to display his new wealth and superiority. He drinks heavily to forget Agnelette and curses his fate, wishing to trade places with the Lord of Vauparfond.
- François
Valet to the Lord of Vauparfond, encountered by Thibault at the inn. He is acting as a proxy in his master's love affair and is wary of being seen with Thibault.
- Champagne
A fellow valet who arrives with the letter for François. He joins in the drinking but refuses to toast the devil with Thibault.
- Baron de Vauparfond
The lord whose position Thibault envies. He passes Thibault on the road, striking him with his whip, which triggers the apparent fulfillment of Thibault's wish.
Key passages
“He wished the company of ordinary diners to see him eat his pullet, and his eel in its delicate sauce. He wished the other drinkers to envy him his three different wines, drunk out of three different shaped glasses.”
Thibault wanted to be seen and envied by the common patrons, displaying his wealth through an extravagant meal and fine wines.
This shows Thibault's desire for social recognition and his attempt to assert superiority through material display.
“Would the devil,” he exclaimed, “I might just for once have my turn at being one of you great lords, might just for twenty-four hours take your place, Monsieur Raoul de Vauparfond, instead of being only Thibault, the shoemaker, so that I might know what it was to have a fine horse to ride, instead of tramping on foot; might be able to whip the peasants I met on the road, and have the opportunity of paying court to these beautiful women, who deceive their husbands, as the Comtesse de Mont-Gobert does!”
Thibault curses his lowly position and wishes he could swap places with the Baron for a day, to experience the power, luxury, and romantic opportunities of the nobility.
This is the pivotal moment where Thibault's envy and frustration culminate in a wish that directly leads to the chapter's climax.