Twenty Years After · Chapter
Describes How the Duc de Beaufort Amused His Leisure Hours in the Donjon of Vincennes explained
The Duc de Beaufort, imprisoned in Vincennes, passes his time by drawing caricatures of Cardinal Mazarin and training his dog Pistache to perform satirical tricks that mock the cardinal and the court.
What happens
The Duc de Beaufort, imprisoned in Vincennes, passes his time by drawing caricatures of Cardinal Mazarin and training his dog Pistache to perform satirical tricks that mock the cardinal and the court. Despite strict surveillance by Governor Chavigny and keeper La Ramée, Beaufort's rebellious spirit remains unbroken, and his entertainments serve as acts of defiance.
Themes in this chapter
Power and Corruption
Beaufort's imprisonment and his satirical attacks on Mazarin highlight the corruption and abuse of power by the cardinal.
Revolution and Rebellion
Beaufort's defiant acts of drawing and training his dog to mock Mazarin represent a form of rebellion against authority.
Characters to notice
- Beaufort
The imprisoned duke, grandson of Henry IV, who amuses himself by drawing satirical portraits of Mazarin and training his dog Pistache to perform mocking tricks.
- Mazarin
The cardinal is the target of Beaufort's ridicule, depicted in caricatures and satirized by the dog's performances.
- Chavigny
Governor of Vincennes who tries to suppress Beaufort's drawings and is himself mocked by Pistache's tricks.
- La Ramée
Beaufort's keeper, described as incorruptible, convivial, and a constant companion to the duke.
- Grimaud
Mentioned as a potential substitute for La Ramée, having become more silent with age despite Athos's permission to speak.
- Pistache
Beaufort's trained dog, used to perform satirical acts that mock Mazarin and the court.
Key passages
“He had found himself so strictly guarded that he soon perceived the fruitlessness of any attempt at escape. His vengeance, therefore, consisted in coining curses on the head of Mazarin.”
Realizing escape was impossible, Beaufort vented his anger by cursing Mazarin.
Beaufort's frustration turns to verbal defiance.
“The duke was the grandson of Henry IV and Gabrielle d’Estrees—as good-natured, as brave, as proud, and above all, as Gascon as his ancestor, but less elaborately educated.”
Beaufort inherited Henry IV's bold and proud Gascon nature but lacked his education.
Characterization of Beaufort's lineage and temperament.
“Monsieur de Beaufort did not venture to draw the cardinal's fat face.”
Beaufort avoided drawing Mazarin's actual likeness, sticking to profiles.
A subtle act of defiance through omission.
“The poor duke swore, fell into a rage, yelled, and declared that they wished to starve him to death as they had starved the Maréchal Ornano and the Grand Prior of Vendôme; but he refused to promise that he would not make any more drawings and remained without any fire in the room all the winter.”
Beaufort raged against his treatment, comparing it to past starvations, but stubbornly refused to stop drawing, even enduring a fireless winter.
Beaufort's stubborn resistance to authority.
“Pistache, on a signal from his master, placed himself on this line, raised himself on his hind paws, and holding in his front paws a wand with which clothes used to be beaten, he began to dance upon the line with as many contortions as a ropedancer.”
Beaufort's dog Pistache performed a tightrope dance with a wand, entertaining the assembled officers.
The dog's performance as a tool for satire.
