The Man in the Iron Mask -Week 6 - thru in M. Colbert's Carriage

[Robin P, Moderator]

As Hedi commented in the previous thread, our story seems to be winding down. And the omens for the future look sad. The prisoner is banished forever, and we get the sense that he may not live long. Athos foresees the death of Raoul and both he and d'Artagnan feel they will never meet again.

Dumas was a man who loved (many) women but the strongest loves he depicts in this saga are between men - the 4 friends and now Athos and Raoul. I think it has been rare in most times and cultures for fathers and sons to so obviously declare their love for each other. Dumas himself worshiped his hero father who died when Dumas was a child. I have the feeling that Dumas' son, Alexandre Dumas (Fils) who was illegitimate but recognized by his parent (like Raoul!) was embarrassed by his extravagant father. Dumas fils wrote dramas that supported bourgeois morality.

A more amusing part of this section is Athos as detective, which is usually d'Artagnan's job. He is able to piece together the truth from the fisherman's tale and the message dropped from the prison window, as well as what he knows from Aramis.

The future doesn't look bright for Fouquet either, with Colbert and the king closing in on him and his fortune and foiling his friends' last minute plans for escape. Again, he takes the noble high road in surrendering all his money on demand. I had to look up Belle-Isle because I pictured it to the north of France, off Brittany but people keep going past Athos' home in the Loire Valley to get there and that is south of Paris. It turns out the island is to the south of Brittany, west of Nantes, where everyone is going and also west of Blois and the fictional home of Athos.

What do you expect in the final 200 pages or so of the book?

[Hedi]

I have finally made this section. I am so sorry, especially as I had said we should go on instead of taking a break. I must admit that the current world affairs have kept me glued to the TV and internet instead of spending the time on the affairs of France in the 17th century.
Next weekend I will be on a trip and will probably not have much time for reading either. We will see.

Athos put it all together as it seems. The question is whether he and d’Artagnan might be in danger after all as well. It seems that Anne of Austria wants to get rid of everyone knowing about her secret. So probably everyone is in danger.

Wasn’t it heartbreaking to see Athos and Raoul part? And then Grimaud (not the youngest anymore) joins him on his travels to Africa. In the end, it seemed that Raoul was not that eager to die anymore, but maybe he tried to give that impression to Athos, who was already talking about his inheritance to Raoul.

What did you think of Madame de Chevreuse in the last chapter of this section? She seems to have become the executioner of Queen Anne. What is in it for her? Regained favor by the court?

[Robin P, Moderator]

Very sad how Mme de Chevreuse is reduced in this book from what she was earlier.

As always, it's not a problem if you catch up to the reading later. I appreciate everyone who has been hanging in there for this long read, which was sometimes a slog.

As far as current events, I was reading a sci-fi book recently where there was fighting in a city. Although it was on another planet, with different weapons, I suddenly felt like it was not entertaining to read about such a thing, the way it might have been in a different year.

[Ana]

I’m finally catching up.
Like Hedi, I’ve found it hard to get in read-mode lately, but we’re almost done so I’m not giving up.

I really don’t like the sad tone of these chapters.
There’s enough sadness in the world 🌎 I like fiction to be more upbeat and positive.
I’m annoyed that Raoul failed to do anything spectacular or memorable in the saga. For a character who has an entire book named after him, he’s very unimpressive.
It’s such a cruel thing to break Athos’ heart like that - to leave him with no son and no grandchildren just go to a pointless war.
I’m kind of mad a Dumas for not giving the characters more joyous moments. I know French authors are not big on happy endings but this is just too much. 😢 Oh and the worst is yet to come.

On a happier note 📝 :
My favorite part was when Louise is surrounded by her frenemies and they all attack her. D’Artagnan is amazed that ladies who appear ‘gentle as doves’ treat each other in such a cruel way.
But what makes it totally awesome is that he basically tells Louise the same thing in a more direct way. She deserves it!
Louise and Raoul were the two most bland characters.
So sad, especially since Raoul had so much potential - his father was such a perfect gentleman and his mother was the biggest flirt. He could have been great.
What a waste. 🙄

[Ana]

Hedi wrote: "What did you think of Madame de Chevreuse in the last chapter of this section? She seems to have become the executioner of Queen Anne. What is in it for her? Regained favor by the court?"
It was very tragic to see Madame de Chevreuse plotting Aramis's death with Colbert. He was so in love with her in the first book and she always helped him. I guess there's nothing stronger than love that has turned into hatred. So sad.