Article #322-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from St. Ives: Being the Adventures of a French Prisoner in England, by Robert Louis Stevenson

                                                             [_S. C._]

CHAPTER I—A TALE OF A LION RAMPANT

It was in the month of May 1813 that I was so unlucky as to fall at last
into the hands of the enemy. My knowledge of the English language had
marked me out for a certain employment. Though I cannot conceive a
soldier refusing to incur the risk, yet to be hanged for a spy is a
disgusting business; and I was relieved to be held a prisoner of war.
Into the Castle of Edinburgh, standing in the midst of that city on the
summit of an extraordinary rock, I was cast with several hundred
fellow-sufferers, all privates like myself, and the more part of them, by
an accident, very ignorant, plain fellows. My English, which had brought
me into that scrape, now helped me very materially to bear it. I had a
thousand advantages. I was often called to play the part of an
interpreter, whether of orders or complaints, and thus brought in
relations, sometimes of mirth, sometimes almost of friendship, with the
officers in charge. A young lieutenant singled me out to be his
adversary at chess, a game in which I was extremely proficient, and would
reward me for my gambits with excellent cigars. The major of the
battalion took lessons of French from me while at breakfast, and was
sometimes so obliging as to have me join him at the meal. Chevenix was
his name. He was stiff as a drum-major and selfish as an Englishman, but
a fairly conscientious pupil and a fairly upright man. Little did I
suppose that his ramrod body and frozen face would, in the end, step in
between me and all my dearest wishes; that upon this precise, regular,
icy soldier-man my fortunes should so nearly shipwreck! I never liked,
but yet I trusted him; and though it may seem but a trifle, I found his
snuff-box with the bean in it come very welcome.

Explanation

**Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson**

1. Context of the Source

St. Ives: Being the Adventures of a French Prisoner in England (1897) is an unfinished novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, published posthumously. Set during the Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815), it follows the adventures of Anne de Keroual de Saint-Yves (nicknamed "St. Ives"), a French officer captured by the British and imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle.

Stevenson, best known for Treasure Island (1883) and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), often explored themes of adventure, duality, and moral ambiguity. St. Ives blends historical fiction, swashbuckling romance, and prison-break narratives, reflecting Stevenson’s fascination with outcasts, survivors, and men navigating hostile systems.

The excerpt comes from Chapter I, where the narrator (St. Ives) introduces himself as a French prisoner of war in Edinburgh Castle, reflecting on his capture, his linguistic advantages, and his complex relationships with his British captors.

2. Summary of the Excerpt

The passage opens with St. Ives recounting his capture in May 1813 during the Napoleonic Wars. Though he risks being executed as a spy, his fluency in English saves him—he is instead classified as a prisoner of war (POW) and sent to Edinburgh Castle, a formidable fortress perched on a volcanic rock.

Unlike most of his fellow prisoners—uneducated, "ignorant, plain fellows"—St. Ives’ language skills grant him privileges:

He acts as an interpreter between the French prisoners and British officers.
He plays chess with a young lieutenant, who rewards him with cigars.
He teaches French to Major Chevenix, a rigid, cold English officer, who occasionally shares breakfast with him.

Despite these advantages, St. Ives distrusts Chevenix, describing him as "stiff as a drum-major and selfish as an Englishman." Yet, he tolerates him—even appreciates small favors like snuff from his box. The chapter ends with foreshadowing: Chevenix, despite his icy demeanor, will later interfere with St. Ives’ plans, nearly ruining his chances for freedom and happiness.

3. Key Themes

A. War and Captivity

The excerpt highlights the harsh realities of war, where survival depends on adaptability.
St. Ives’ linguistic ability becomes both a curse (risk of being labeled a spy) and a blessing (better treatment as a POW).
The dehumanizing nature of imprisonment is contrasted with St. Ives’ relative comfort, showing how class and intelligence create hierarchies even among prisoners.

B. Nationalism and Prejudice

Stevenson subtly critiques Anglo-French tensions during the Napoleonic Wars.
St. Ives’ stereotypical view of the English ("selfish as an Englishman") mirrors the British distrust of the French.
Yet, there is mutual dependence: the British need St. Ives for translation, and he needs their favors to survive.

C. Trust and Betrayal

St. Ives does not like Chevenix but trusts him—a dangerous combination.
The snuff-box symbolizes small, superficial kindnesses that mask deeper hostility or indifference.
The foreshadowing suggests that Chevenix will later betray or obstruct St. Ives, reinforcing the theme that trust in war is fragile.

D. Class and Privilege

St. Ives is educated and refined, setting him apart from the "ignorant, plain fellows" in prison.
His chess games and French lessons elevate his status, showing how intellect and culture can mitigate the horrors of war.
The major’s breakfast invitations highlight the hypocrisy of wartime etiquette—civility exists alongside brutality.

4. Literary Devices

A. First-Person Narration & Unreliable Perspective

St. Ives’ subjective voice shapes the reader’s view of events.
His dry, ironic tone ("a disgusting business") downplays the horror of execution, making him seem stoic or detached.
His prejudice against Chevenix ("selfish as an Englishman") may be unfair, but it reflects his bitterness as a prisoner.

B. Foreshadowing

The line:
"Little did I suppose that his ramrod body and frozen face would, in the end, step in between me and all my dearest wishes..."hints at future conflict, creating suspense.

C. Imagery & Symbolism

Edinburgh Castle (a "summit of an extraordinary rock") symbolizes isolation, power, and inescapability.
Chess represents strategic thinking—St. Ives is a master of the game, just as he must outmaneuver his captors.
Chevenix’s snuff-box is a small but significant detail—it represents false generosity and the superficial bonds between captor and prisoner.

D. Irony & Understatement

St. Ives casually mentions the risk of being hanged as a spy, treating it as an inconvenience rather than a terror.
His praise for Chevenix ("a fairly conscientious pupil and a fairly upright man") is backhanded, revealing his distrust.

E. Characterization Through Contrast

St. Ives (charming, intelligent, adaptable) vs. Chevenix (rigid, cold, rule-bound).
The "ignorant, plain fellows" (other prisoners) highlight St. Ives’ superiority, but also his loneliness—he is set apart by his skills.

5. Significance of the Passage

A. Introduction to the Protagonist

St. Ives is established as a resourceful, witty, but somewhat cynical narrator.
His linguistic talent is both his greatest asset and a liability, setting up future conflicts and escapes.

B. Setting the Tone for the Novel

The blend of adventure, irony, and historical realism is classic Stevenson.
The prison setting creates tension, while St. Ives’ charm and intelligence suggest he will outsmart his captors.

C. Exploring Stevenson’s Recurring Themes

Duality: St. Ives is both prisoner and privileged, French yet fluent in English, distrustful yet dependent on his enemies.
Survival in a Hostile World: Like Treasure Island’s Jim Hawkins or Kidnapped’s David Balfour, St. Ives must navigate danger with wit.
Moral Ambiguity: The British are not villains, nor is St. Ives a pure hero—both sides have flaws and virtues.

D. Historical & Cultural Context

The Napoleonic Wars were a time of intense Franco-British rivalry, making St. Ives’ situation realistic and tense.
Edinburgh Castle was indeed used as a POW camp, adding authenticity to the setting.
The class divisions among prisoners reflect 19th-century social hierarchies, where education and language determined status even in captivity.

6. Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt efficiently establishes the novel’s central conflicts, themes, and protagonist while showcasing Stevenson’s mastery of narrative voice, irony, and suspense.

St. Ives’ wit and resilience make him a compelling antihero—neither fully sympathetic nor villainous.
The tension between captivity and privilege sets up a prison-break narrative with psychological depth.
The foreshadowing of Chevenix’s role ensures that even small interactions carry future consequences.

Ultimately, this opening chapter hooks the reader by presenting a clever, flawed protagonist in a high-stakes historical setting, promising adventure, betrayal, and strategic triumphs—hallmarks of Stevenson’s greatest works.

Would you like a deeper analysis of any specific aspect (e.g., Stevenson’s style, historical accuracy, or comparisons to his other novels)?

Questions

Question 1

The narrator’s description of Major Chevenix as "stiff as a drum-major and selfish as an Englishman" serves primarily to:

A. Establish Chevenix as a one-dimensional villain whose rigidity will later justify the narrator’s moral compromises.
B. Reflect the narrator’s unconscious internalisation of British stereotypes, revealing his own cultural bias.
C. Create comic relief by exaggerating national traits, thereby lightening the otherwise grim tone of imprisonment.
D. Signal the narrator’s admiration for Chevenix’s disciplined nature, despite their personal friction.
E. Introduce a paradoxical dynamic where the narrator both relies on and resents Chevenix, foreshadowing their fraught relationship.

Question 2

The snuff-box with the bean functions in the passage as:

A. A symbol of Chevenix’s hidden generosity, undermining the narrator’s earlier criticism of his coldness.
B. An ironic detail that highlights the triviality of the narrator’s comforts compared to the suffering of other prisoners.
C. A metaphor for the narrator’s own imprisonment, as the bean is trapped within the box just as he is trapped in the castle.
D. A narrative device to humanise Chevenix, suggesting his rigidity masks a capacity for warmth.
E. A tangible yet ambiguous token of favour, embodying the uneasy transactional nature of the narrator’s relationship with authority.

Question 3

The narrator’s assertion that "to be hanged for a spy is a disgusting business" is most effectively read as:

A. A moment of dark humour intended to shock the reader into sympathy for his plight.
B. An understated critique of the arbitrary distinctions between soldiers and spies in wartime.
C. Evidence of his emotional detachment, suggesting a sociopathic indifference to mortality.
D. A calculated appeal to the reader’s sense of justice, positioning himself as an unjustly accused man.
E. A revelation of his pragmatic worldview, where survival outweighs ideological or patriotic concerns.

Question 4

The passage’s portrayal of the narrator’s privileges (e.g., chess, French lessons, meals) primarily serves to:

A. Undermine the severity of his imprisonment, thereby reducing the reader’s sympathy for his eventual escape.
B. Illustrate the corrupting influence of power, as the narrator exploits his linguistic skills to gain unfair advantages.
C. Highlight the paradox of captivity, where intellectual and social capital can mitigate—but not erase—physical confinement.
D. Contrast the narrator’s refinement with the "ignorant, plain fellows," reinforcing a class-based hierarchy among prisoners.
E. Foreshadow his eventual betrayal by the officers, as his favours will later be revealed as a trap.

Question 5

The phrase "my fortunes should so nearly shipwreck" is most closely aligned with which of the following literary techniques?

A. Pathetic fallacy, as it attributes human misfortune to an inanimate force (the "shipwreck" of fate).
B. Metonymy, using "shipwreck" to represent the broader collapse of the narrator’s plans.
C. Extended metaphor, framing the narrator’s life as a voyage threatened by Chevenix’s obstructive presence.
D. Hyperbole, exaggerating the severity of Chevenix’s interference for dramatic effect.
E. Allegory, where the "shipwreck" symbolises the inevitable failure of Franco-British reconciliation.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: E

Why E is most correct: The passage establishes a paradoxical reliance on Chevenix: the narrator benefits materially (snuff, meals, chess) from their interaction but distrusts him deeply ("icy soldier-man"). The phrase "stiff as a drum-major and selfish as an Englishman" is not mere villainisation (A) or stereotype reinforcement (B), but a nuanced setup for their fraught dynamic. The foreshadowing ("step in between me and all my dearest wishes") confirms that this ambivalence—needing yet resenting Chevenix—will drive future conflict. Stevenson excels at such psychological tension, where dependency and antagonism coexist.