I read the book The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy. The main character is named Lady Blakeney. Her maiden name is Margeurite St. Just. She is called by either name depending on the speaker, though the narrator refers to her as "Marguerite." Marguerite is perhaps the most beautiful woman in England. She is a blonde of average height. Marguerite is the wife of Sir Percy Blakeney, a dumb, drunken, funny, handsome, fool who's devotion to Marguerite is never-ending. Marguerite was born in France and went to England following her wedding to Percy. Marguerite is the fashion leader for all of Europe. Whenever she walks around in public, people flock around her looking to see what she is wearing. Marguerite is clever, because she thinks quickly when she is following Sir Andrew by fainting when he figures out she is following him. She is often called the most clever woman in Europe. Some people (such as the Comtesse de Tournay) hate Marguerite for her denouncing of Marquis de St. Cyr to the guillotine. Marguerite did not mean to do this however, and could do nothing after knowing what she had absent-mindedly done. The author makes you hate Marguerite at the beginning by writing about her faults. As the book progresses, you begin to like Marguerite more and more. You also start to feel sorry for her during this time. Marguerite is rich. She and Percy own a riverside mansion north of London. Marguerite thinks that her husband has stopped loving her at the beginning. Towards the end, she knows that her husband has always loved her. Marguerite trusts no one except her older brother, Armand St. Just. She thinks he is her only true friend. One of Marguerite's favorite things to do for enjoyment is to go on a late night horse and cart ride with Percy. Percy says little, if anything, and they enjoy the cool breeze and nature. Marguerite is anxious many times, usually as the result of Chauvelin's cruel either-or- statements. Marguerite is very serious, as she never smiles until the end of the book, never tells a joke, and talks only of important business. Marguerite is extremely worrisome. She stays awake for days worrying when husband is gone, and scarce spends a moment not worrying about him, her brother, or another one of her many friends. Marguerite does a fine job of disguising her worries from others, and appears content for most of the book. To summarize, Marguerite has an overworked mind, and is, with this strange mix of traits, very deceiving at times. Marguerite needs to lighten up, because right now, she is as black as pitch.
There were a few conflicts in The Scarlet Pimpernel, and they seemed to happen all at the same time The obvious conflict is between Chauvelin (this book's "bad guy"), and The Scarlet Pimpernel (this book's "good guy"). Chauvelin is trying to catch The Scarlet Pimpernel helping condemned aristocrats escape the French Revolution. Another conflict is inside Marguerite. Marguerite has two big decisions in the story. They are both decisions given to her by Chauvelin. The first one is a choice of who dies (indirectly) between her brother and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Will she sacrifice the life of her brother for the safety of The Scarlet Pimpernel? Or will she let The Scarlet Pimpernel die? The second is a choice of who will be sent to the guillotine, this time between The Scarlet Pimpernel and her brother and three other men. She debates with herself for a long period of time on each of these questions. A fourth conflict happens when Marguerite accuses Percy of not loving her anymore. The resolution to the first conflict is The Scarlet Pimpernel escaping from France with the aristocrats. The Scarlet Pimpernel uses his extremely clever mind to outwit Chauvelin. The resolution to the second conflict is Marguerite picking her brother to be saved. This may seem like a fairly easy decision, but she doesn't yet know that her husband, Percy, is The Scarlet Pimpernel! The resolution to the third conflict is Marguerite's choice to try and save her husband, The Scarlet Pimpernel. This is a hard decision, even if all the men escape safely in the end. The solution to the fourth conflict is for Marguerite to figure out that Percy is The Scarlet Pimpernel. A last conflict inside Marguerite makes her feel guilty of her actions in giving Chauvelin a major hint as to The Scarlet Pimpernel's identity. The intertwined conflicts make this story more interesting than a book with one conflict at a time.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a novel that every person should read at least once in their lifetime. It is the best book I have read in a couple of years. It's really no wonder that this book has found it's place on the bookcase of classics.
There were a few conflicts in The Scarlet Pimpernel, and they seemed to happen all at the same time The obvious conflict is between Chauvelin (this book's "bad guy"), and The Scarlet Pimpernel (this book's "good guy"). Chauvelin is trying to catch The Scarlet Pimpernel helping condemned aristocrats escape the French Revolution. Another conflict is inside Marguerite. Marguerite has two big decisions in the story. They are both decisions given to her by Chauvelin. The first one is a choice of who dies (indirectly) between her brother and The Scarlet Pimpernel. Will she sacrifice the life of her brother for the safety of The Scarlet Pimpernel? Or will she let The Scarlet Pimpernel die? The second is a choice of who will be sent to the guillotine, this time between The Scarlet Pimpernel and her brother and three other men. She debates with herself for a long period of time on each of these questions. A fourth conflict happens when Marguerite accuses Percy of not loving her anymore. The resolution to the first conflict is The Scarlet Pimpernel escaping from France with the aristocrats. The Scarlet Pimpernel uses his extremely clever mind to outwit Chauvelin. The resolution to the second conflict is Marguerite picking her brother to be saved. This may seem like a fairly easy decision, but she doesn't yet know that her husband, Percy, is The Scarlet Pimpernel! The resolution to the third conflict is Marguerite's choice to try and save her husband, The Scarlet Pimpernel. This is a hard decision, even if all the men escape safely in the end. The solution to the fourth conflict is for Marguerite to figure out that Percy is The Scarlet Pimpernel. A last conflict inside Marguerite makes her feel guilty of her actions in giving Chauvelin a major hint as to The Scarlet Pimpernel's identity. The intertwined conflicts make this story more interesting than a book with one conflict at a time.
The Scarlet Pimpernel is a novel that every person should read at least once in their lifetime. It is the best book I have read in a couple of years. It's really no wonder that this book has found it's place on the bookcase of classics.
