"but glory has ignored it. He who fights against his country is never a hero." The narrator seems to respect at least some of the sailors on an individual level. This will be worth comparing to some of the peasants from La Vendée that they’re supposedly fighting alongside.
"and, in order to rest a few hours, took shelter in the little creek situated to the north at low tide," So they weren’t awake for all thirty-six hours? That would only make Halmalo’s memory (if he’s telling the truth about all these places) even more impressive.
This is about the longest chapter since 1.1.1. So much namedropping, so much to take in. Let’s see, we have some more pseudonyms/different identities (“Planchenault, also called Cœur-de-Roi”…”Guitter, called Saint-Martin”…”Gaulier, called Grand-Pierre”). We have an emphasis on no quarter, no pity, just killing everybody. Although even then, there’s the potential for positive emotions (“you will find there a knock-kneed man surnamed Mousqueton, and who shows pity to nobody. You will tell him that I love him,”), it’s just quickly brushed over. Halmalo is not literate, but he knows all about where to find a famous book that serves as a tourist trap.
More characterization of Halmalo in terms of his deference to the establish order; since he kisses his crucifix, he’s allowed to kiss the symbol of the monarchy. He can memorize the instructions, like he memorizes his prayers. The old man appreciates this formulaic behavior, praising “another good man. He says his benedicite while he is having people shot. Just in case you’d forgotten, we have, “In war, no sentimentality.”
We also learn that Halmalo fought under the king ten years ago, not really sure who he was fighting against. Like Michelle Fléchard’s husband, maybe, he just sort of goes along with things without understanding who’s fighting who why. Like I said, so long, so many details, although I’ve seen people catching onto stuff I didn’t really attend to the first time around, so that’s cool, but there’s a lot of twists and turns yet to come.
Namewise, the old man addresses Halmalo as Halmalo, Halmalo calls him monseigneur (in Wikisource translation), and the narrator calls him the old man still.
"to be sure the assignats are counterfeit, but the genuine ones are worth no more;" Equivalence of worth plays into the chapter title—is Halmalo’s memory really this good? Is the old man really that knowledgeable? Maybe it doesn’t matter.
"And be on your guard. For in this country it is an easy matter to put a man to death." Yeah, you’d know that, wouldn’t you?
"Death doesn’t concern me. He who takes his first step may be wearing his last shoes." It concerned you a lot more when your brother was dying. But, sometimes there’s a seemingly higher priority.
"I will speak the word." This translation of Halmalo’s line seems to call back the last chapter title.
"Like my brother; and if do not succeed, you will have me shot?" If Halmalo doesn’t succeed, is the old man necessarily ever going to see him again?
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2014-05-03 05:00 pm (UTC)"and, in order to rest a few hours, took shelter in the little creek situated to the north at low tide," So they weren’t awake for all thirty-six hours? That would only make Halmalo’s memory (if he’s telling the truth about all these places) even more impressive.
This is about the longest chapter since 1.1.1. So much namedropping, so much to take in. Let’s see, we have some more pseudonyms/different identities (“Planchenault, also called Cœur-de-Roi”…”Guitter, called Saint-Martin”…”Gaulier, called Grand-Pierre”). We have an emphasis on no quarter, no pity, just killing everybody. Although even then, there’s the potential for positive emotions (“you will find there a knock-kneed man surnamed Mousqueton, and who shows pity to nobody. You will tell him that I love him,”), it’s just quickly brushed over. Halmalo is not literate, but he knows all about where to find a famous book that serves as a tourist trap.
More characterization of Halmalo in terms of his deference to the establish order; since he kisses his crucifix, he’s allowed to kiss the symbol of the monarchy. He can memorize the instructions, like he memorizes his prayers. The old man appreciates this formulaic behavior, praising “another good man. He says his benedicite while he is having people shot. Just in case you’d forgotten, we have, “In war, no sentimentality.”
We also learn that Halmalo fought under the king ten years ago, not really sure who he was fighting against. Like Michelle Fléchard’s husband, maybe, he just sort of goes along with things without understanding who’s fighting who why. Like I said, so long, so many details, although I’ve seen people catching onto stuff I didn’t really attend to the first time around, so that’s cool, but there’s a lot of twists and turns yet to come.
Namewise, the old man addresses Halmalo as Halmalo, Halmalo calls him monseigneur (in Wikisource translation), and the narrator calls him the old man still.
"to be sure the assignats are counterfeit, but the genuine ones are worth no more;" Equivalence of worth plays into the chapter title—is Halmalo’s memory really this good? Is the old man really that knowledgeable? Maybe it doesn’t matter.
"And be on your guard. For in this country it is an easy matter to put a man to death." Yeah, you’d know that, wouldn’t you?
"Death doesn’t concern me. He who takes his first step may be wearing his last shoes." It concerned you a lot more when your brother was dying. But, sometimes there’s a seemingly higher priority.
"I will speak the word." This translation of Halmalo’s line seems to call back the last chapter title.
"Like my brother; and if do not succeed, you will have me shot?" If Halmalo doesn’t succeed, is the old man necessarily ever going to see him again?