genarti: Fountain pen lying on blank paper, nib in close focus. ([misc] ink on the page)
[personal profile] genarti posting in [community profile] club93
And now, chapter 2.2.2, continuing the classical theme with more Latin: "Magna testantur voce per umbras."

Date: 2014-05-17 05:48 pm (UTC)
primeideal: Multicolored sideways eight (infinity sign) (Default)
From: [personal profile] primeideal
Playing catchup. Long chapters+dense allusions I know nothing about=disjointed rambling.

"I have just read you the despatches from Prieur de la Marne…" So they’re discussing Lantenac, but he’s not directly named here.

"You each have your hobby; yours, Danton, is Prussia; yours, Robespierre, la Vendée. Now I will give my views. You do not see the real danger; it is here,—the cafés and the gaming-houses." Compare with 2.1.2: ""Ninety-three" was the war of Europe against France, and of France against Paris." We have Danton being concerned about the greater European theater, Robespierre worrying about the outskirts of France, and Marat focusing on the city itself. The republicans really need to deal with all three. Hmm, now that I think about it, the broad-scale structure of the book sort of works this way—Part One is "At Sea," with the English ship tying into the broad European scope. This one is "In Paris," and the third will be named after the Vendee.

"Ah! Citizen Danton, why did you bring me to your secret meeting, if it was not to have my advice? Did I ask you for permission to come? Far from it." That’s a good point, who’s in charge here? They’re all sort of distrusting the others but want the door open to those of their own faction.

"The danger is in the paper money, which is depreciating." Sure is, we mentioned that during 2.1.1 as well. But this seems to be a very different tone from that one. Someone brought up that the main characters are from the upper classes and we don’t get to see the common people’s take on the revolution—I wonder how much these guys are also separated from the general population in Paris and their experience of inflation.

…as this paragraph goes on, Marat mentions more and more of the average experience. “bread is worth three francs, twelve sous for four pounds, the theatres play immoral pieces, and Robespierre will have Danton guillotined.”

"Ugh!" said Danton.

Hate that when that happens.

Then the conversation, full of portentous repartees, began again.

"Listen, Marat; before marrying, we must become acquainted. How did you know what I said yesterday to Saint-Just?"

Portentous repartees, haha. I guess Marat was right that Robespierre would have Danton guillotined, Hugo can get away with some blatant “foreshadowing.” Why’s he telling these guys that he’s spying on them, though? Seems like the kind of thing you want to keep secret.

""Pretty boy, will you come up where I live?" muttered Marat." <- Is this just the setup for RPS?

"Well, as for me, I have always been alive; I am suffering humanity, I am six thousand years old." Does sound pretty ridiculous, but maybe makes a little more sense in the context of him seeming a little more in touch with the common people.

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