2.1.13 Chapter Discussion and Week 12 Summary(Spoilers up to 2.1.13)
Summary of chapters 2.1.7-2.1.13 (Sorry in advance if there are any mistakes, there was a lot of information so if you see any mistakes please let me know and I’ll update the summary):
Napoleon stays at Rossomme and in contrast to Austerlitz is in a happy mood. He is told that the English cavalry is in Ohain (North-East of Mont-Saint-Jean) in anticipation for a fight. Napoleon detaches 3 corps to Mont-Saint-Jean (North of Rossomme) ahead of him without him because he is convinced of victory. He puts the second part of his army between Genappe and Brussels and a third part between La Belle-Alliance and La Haie-Sante. Here the guard is placed behind a steep hill just south of the plain of Mont-Saint-Jean. Between here and Wellington lay the sunken road of Ohain which is an invisible trench between two hills.
Napoleon’s plan for the battle is excellent and the setbacks don’t affect him. When he sees that Wellington retreats from the plains of Mont-Saint-Jean, Napoleon is heard asking something to his captured guide. His answer convinces Napoleon to take the plain of Mont-Saint-Jean and because of this he orders more than a thousand men to take the plain and die in the invisible trench where the English army is waiting behind. Even though the French army is diminished in size it is increased in spirit and in the following battle the English army is hugely weakened.
Wellington is anxious for Blücher to arrive and his Prussian army is seen on the hills of Plancenoit (in the East). If Blücher’s guide hadn’t advised him to go to Wellington via a road below Planchenoit he would have stumbled upon an impassable ravine and Napoleon would have won the war. Instead the French are driven back by the Prussians while the English advanced. As a last resort the imperial guard came from Nivelles in the South but they were ambushed. The French army breaks and starts to flee. Ney fights heroically until the end and tries to hold the French army without avail. Lobau tries to defend Geneppe on the French retreat but the Prussians rush through and kill everyone on their path. Napoleon is eventually found near Genappe still advancing all alone.
This loss is not for nothing though, that day changed the perspective of human race and the great century began.
Questions for 2.1.13:
1.) What comments do you have about the characters and story in this chapter? How do you view the characters' actions and their thoughts? Did the characters grow/change, was something out of character etc.?
2.) What are your thoughts about the author's craft (and/or translator's craft) in this chapter? Which line did you enjoy the most and which the least and why did you like/dislike this specific line? Were there any literary devices that stood out to you or descriptions of people, clothing, scenery etc. that were of interest to you?
3.) What questions does this chapter leave you with? what other topics would you like to discuss with the group?
Final Line:
It was Napoleon, still trying to advance, mighty sleepwalker of a vanished dream.
Posted Mar 24, 2019, 12:00 AM UTC