Article #60-2 | Gutenberg Articles

Excerpt

Excerpt from The Scarlet Pimpernel, by Baroness Emmuska Orczy Orczy

But this was as it should be: were not the people now the rulers of
France? Every aristocrat was a traitor, as his ancestors had been
before him: for two hundred years now the people had sweated, and
toiled, and starved, to keep a lustful court in lavish extravagance;
now the descendants of those who had helped to make those courts
brilliant had to hide for their lives—to fly, if they wished to avoid
the tardy vengeance of the people.

And they did try to hide, and tried to fly: that was just the fun of
the whole thing. Every afternoon before the gates closed and the market
carts went out in procession by the various barricades, some fool of an
aristo endeavoured to evade the clutches of the Committee of Public
Safety. In various disguises, under various pretexts, they tried to
slip through the barriers which were so well guarded by citizen
soldiers of the Republic. Men in women’s clothes, women in male attire,
children disguised in beggars’ rags: there were some of all sorts:
ci-devant counts, marquises, even dukes, who wanted to fly from
France, reach England or some other equally accursed country, and there
try to rouse foreign feeling against the glorious Revolution, or to
raise an army in order to liberate the wretched prisoners in the
Temple, who had once called themselves sovereigns of France.

But they were nearly always caught at the barricades. Sergeant Bibot
especially at the West Gate had a wonderful nose for scenting an aristo
in the most perfect disguise. Then, of course, the fun began. Bibot
would look at his prey as a cat looks upon the mouse, play with him,
sometimes for quite a quarter of an hour, pretend to be hoodwinked by
the disguise, by the wigs and other bits of theatrical make-up which
hid the identity of a ci-devant noble marquise or count.

Explanation

Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Scarlet Pimpernel

Context of the Source

The Scarlet Pimpernel (1905) is a historical adventure novel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, set during the French Revolution (1789–1799), particularly in 1792–1794, the height of the Reign of Terror. The novel follows Sir Percy Blakeney, a seemingly foppish English aristocrat who secretly leads a league of rescuers (the League of the Scarlet Pimpernel) to smuggle French nobles out of revolutionary France before they can be executed.

This excerpt depicts the paranoia, class hatred, and brutal efficiency of the revolutionary government, particularly the Committee of Public Safety (led by figures like Robespierre), which hunted down aristocrats (aristos) under the guise of "justice for the people." The passage highlights the danger and desperation of the French nobility as they attempt to flee, only to be captured and mocked by revolutionary soldiers like Sergeant Bibot.

Themes in the Excerpt

Class Conflict & Revolutionary Vengeance
- The passage frames the Revolution as a violent reversal of power, where the oppressed peasantry ("the people") now rule, and the aristocracy ("traitors") face retribution.
- The narrator (who reflects the royalist sympathies of the novel) portrays the Revolution as unjust and bloodthirsty, emphasizing that the aristocrats are being punished for the sins of their ancestors ("for two hundred years now the people had sweated, and toiled, and starved").
- The phrase "tardy vengeance" suggests that the Revolution is not just about justice but delayed, vengeful violence.
Dehumanization & Hunting of the Aristocracy
- Aristocrats are reduced to "fools" and "prey", hunted like animals by revolutionary soldiers.
- The disguises (men in women’s clothes, women in rags) show their desperation, while the soldiers’ amusement ("the fun of the whole thing") highlights their sadism.
- Sergeant Bibot’s cat-and-mouse games with captured nobles reinforce the idea that the Revolution has stripped them of dignity.
Fear & Paranoia
- The barricades and strict inspections create an atmosphere of constant surveillance, where no escape seems possible.
- The aristocrats’ attempts to flee are futile, reinforcing the inevitability of their capture—a theme that drives the suspense of The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Propaganda & Distrust of Foreign Powers
- The narrator mentions that aristocrats flee to "England or some other equally accursed country", reflecting the xenophobic rhetoric of the Revolution, which saw foreign nations (especially Britain) as enemies plotting to restore the monarchy.
- The idea that nobles would "rouse foreign feeling" or "raise an army" mirrors real historical fears (e.g., the War of the First Coalition, 1792–1797).

Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices

Irony & Sarcasm
- The phrase "this was as it should be" is heavily ironic—the narrator (and Orczy, a monarchist) clearly disapproves of the Revolution’s violence but presents it as the "natural order" under revolutionary rule.
- The word "fun" is used sarcastically to describe the sadistic enjoyment of capturing and tormenting nobles.
Animal Imagery & Predatory Language
- Aristocrats are compared to prey, while Bibot is a cat toying with a mouse. This dehumanizes the nobility and glorifies the hunters.
- The phrase "wonderful nose for scenting an aristo" reinforces the idea of hunting, making the revolutionaries seem like predators.
Repetition & Emphasis
- The repetition of "try" ("they did try to hide, and tried to fly") emphasizes the futility of escape.
- The listing of disguises ("men in women’s clothes, women in male attire, children disguised in beggars’ rags") creates a sense of chaos and desperation.
Historical Allusions & Terminology
- Ci-devant (French for "formerly") refers to ex-nobles—a term used mockingly by revolutionaries.
- The "Temple" was the prison where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were held before execution, symbolizing the fall of the monarchy.
- The "Committee of Public Safety" was the real-life revolutionary tribunal responsible for the Reign of Terror (1793–94), executing thousands.
Narrative Perspective & Bias
- The third-person omniscient narrator adopts a pro-aristocratic, anti-revolutionary stance, portraying the nobles as victims and the revolutionaries as cruel and mocking.
- This aligns with Orczy’s political views—she was a Hungarian noblewoman who fled revolutionary threats in her youth, shaping her sympathy for the persecuted aristocracy.

Significance of the Passage

Establishing the Stakes for the Plot
- The excerpt sets up the danger that the Scarlet Pimpernel and his league must navigate. The near-impossible escape from France makes their rescues all the more heroic.
- The brutality of Bibot and the Committee creates a villainous force that the protagonist must outwit.
Historical Commentary on Revolution
- Orczy critiques revolutionary excess, portraying it as mob rule rather than true justice. This reflects 19th- and early 20th-century conservative fears of class upheaval (e.g., after the Russian Revolution of 1917).
- The passage humanizes the aristocracy, a controversial choice given that many nobles were oppressive. Orczy’s romanticized view ignores some historical complexities.
The Duality of the Scarlet Pimpernel
- The foppish, lazy public persona of Sir Percy Blakeney (revealed later in the novel) contrasts sharply with the ruthless efficiency of the revolutionaries. His secret heroism is all the more striking against this dark backdrop.
Adventure & Suspense Genre Conventions
- The high-stakes escapes, disguises, and pursuit by authorities are classic elements of swashbuckling adventure (a genre Orczy helped popularize).
- The cat-and-mouse dynamic between Bibot and the aristocrats foreshadows the later intellectual duel between the Scarlet Pimpernel and his revolutionary nemesis, Chauvelin.

Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters

This excerpt is not just exposition—it immerses the reader in the terror of revolutionary France, making the heroism of the Scarlet Pimpernel more compelling. By vilifying the revolutionaries and sympathizing with the aristocracy, Orczy sets up a clear moral conflict: order vs. chaos, mercy vs. vengeance, heroism vs. tyranny.

The passage also reflects Orczy’s personal and political beliefs, offering a romanticized, pro-monarchist view of history that glorifies the nobility while demonizing the Revolution. For modern readers, it serves as a fascinating (if biased) window into how the French Revolution was perceived by conservative European elites in the early 20th century.

Would you like a deeper analysis of any specific aspect, such as the historical accuracy or the novel’s broader themes?

Questions

Question 1

The narrator’s description of Sergeant Bibot’s interactions with captured aristocrats as “the fun of the whole thing” primarily serves to:

A. underscore the revolutionary soldiers’ commitment to ideological purity through meticulous interrogation.
B. highlight the absurdity of class distinctions by showing how easily disguises are penetrated.
C. suggest that the Revolution has devolved into a farcical performance rather than a serious political movement.
D. expose the sadistic pleasure derived from dehumanizing and tormenting a formerly dominant class.
E. illustrate the inefficiency of the Committee of Public Safety in maintaining consistent surveillance protocols.

Question 2

The phrase “tardy vengeance of the people” most strongly implies that the Revolution’s violence is:

A. a measured and long-overdue correction of historical injustices.
B. an impulsive and belated reaction lacking proportional moral justification.
C. a preemptive strike to prevent aristocratic counterrevolutionary plots.
D. a ritualistic reenactment of ancestral grievances to solidify collective identity.
E. an inevitable consequence of the aristocracy’s refusal to negotiate with reformists.

Question 3

Which of the following best describes the narrative function of the repeated attempts by aristocrats to flee in disguise?

A. To create a cyclical pattern of futility that reinforces the inescapability of revolutionary justice.
B. To demonstrate the ingenuity of the nobility in adapting to adversity.
C. To provide comic relief amid the otherwise grim tone of the passage.
D. To critique the superficiality of class markers by showing how easily they can be manipulated.
E. To foreshadow the eventual success of the Scarlet Pimpernel’s rescue missions.

Question 4

The passage’s portrayal of the aristocracy as “fools” who “try to hide” and “try to fly” is most consistent with which interpretive framework?

A. A Marxist reading, where the nobility’s incompetence symbolizes the inherent decay of feudal systems.
B. A reactionary reading, where the aristocrats’ desperation is framed as tragic rather than deserved.
C. A satirical reading, where the nobles’ bumbling escape attempts parody the tropes of adventure narratives.
D. A psychological reading, where the aristocrats’ behavior reflects trauma-induced regression.
E. A feminist reading, where the cross-dressing disguises challenge gender norms under duress.

Question 5

The narrator’s assertion that aristocrats flee to “England or some other equally accursed country” primarily serves to:

A. emphasize the geographical isolation of revolutionary France.
B. suggest that foreign nations are complicit in the aristocracy’s oppression of the French people.
C. contrast the moral purity of the Republic with the corruption of monarchical regimes.
D. reflect the xenophobic rhetoric of the Revolution, which views external powers as existential threats.
E. imply that the aristocrats’ survival depends on exploiting colonial networks outside France.

Solutions and Explanations

1) Correct answer: D

Why D is most correct: The phrase “the fun of the whole thing” is dripping with sarcasm, but its primary effect is to reveal the sadistic delight Bibot and the soldiers take in toying with and humiliating the aristocracy. The passage frames this as a power reversal, where the formerly dominant class is now prey, and their tormentors derive pleasure from their degradation. This aligns with the broader theme of dehumanization in revolutionary violence.