Scarlett Pimple
Good communication is not necessarily proper grammar, but rather the ability to converse. A clear example of this is in The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, a story that takes place in France and England in the late 1700s. This book is set during the French Revolution, a time when upper class French citizens were being sent to their death by the revolutionaries. The Scarlet Pimpernel is a historical fiction story which tells the tale of a fearless and brave man who selflessly risks his life time and time again, to help aristocrats escape to freedom.
There are many conflicts in this book, both internal and external. One external conflict occurs between Sir Percy and his wife, Lady Marguerite, as they fall out of love with each other, and their marriage turns appalling, as a result of the lack of communication. Another conflict occurs within Lady Marguerite, as she struggles internally between choosing to save her brother or the courageous Scarlet Pimpernel. One conflict is between Sir Percy and his wife, Lady Marguerite. When Sir Percy is exposed to the rumor that Lady Marguerite triggered the Marquis de St.
Cyr’s death, their once happy marriage starts to deteriorate. Sir Percy never gives Lady Marguerite the opportunity to explain herself and doesn’t make an effort to hold their marriage together. Lady Marguerite, on the other hand, yearns for the love that her husband used to give her, but doesn’t even attempt to make amends. Sir Percy ignores his wife, and in return Lady Marguerite mocks him behind his back. Lady Marguerite and Sir Percy are both selfish and stubborn, which jeopardizes their chance at a happy life. Neither Percy nor Marguerite initiates a discussion about where their marriage went wrong.
Without talking their problems through, they drift farther and farther away from each other. Percy and Marguerite each feel betrayed by their spouse, but neither of them is willing to give up their pride to apologize and get their marriage back on track. Another conflict occurs within Lady Marguerite, as she is faced with a crucial decision, to save either her brother or the Scarlet Pimpernel. Chauvelin, a French revolutionary officer blackmails Lady Marguerite into choosing. Chauvelin is holding Armand, Lady Marguerites brother, hostage.
Chauvelin says he will kill Armand if Lady Marguerite does not hand over a secret note from the Scarlet Pimpernel’s league. Lady Marguerite is torn between these two choices. As one can imagine, she wants to save her brother, her blood relative. On the other hand, she knows she should save the Scarlet Pimpernel, for the common good. The death of the Scarlet Pimpernel would mean the death of hundreds of French aristocrats whom the Scarlet Pimpernel might save. It is one death against hundreds, but the one death would be her brother’s. After much thought, Lady Marguerite reaches a verdict.
She chooses to save her brother. Following this decision, Lady Marguerite gives over a confidential note from the Scarlet Pimpernel to Chauvelin. The Scarlet Pimpernel’s true identity is now known to Chauvelin, but Lady Marguerite is not yet conscious of the significant mistake she has made. Marguerite is poking around inside her husband’s office when she notices the symbol of the Scarlet Pimpernel. Lady Marguerite is now aware of just how tough her decision was. She preferred to save her brother over a bold and daring man, but she was oblivious to the fact that the brave man was her husband.
Lady Marguerite’s internal conflict ultimately affected her external conflict. When Lady Marguerite finds out that her husband is the Scarlet Pimpernel, her external conflict is resolved, and the flame of love is rekindled in her soul. If Lady Marguerite would have informed her husband over the difficult decision she was being forced to make, he would have offered his assistance, and informed her that he was the Scarlet Pimpernel. Communication is the key to a healthy marriage, and it is clearly shown in this story. An entire conflict could have been resolved with proper communication.
