Résumé du Colonel Chabert de Balzac

Summary

In Balzac's 'L'Histoire du Colonel Chabert,' set in Paris in 1818, Colonel Chabert, believed to be dead after the Battle of Eylau, seeks to reclaim his identity and fortune from his remarrying wife, Madame de Ferraud. After surviving a brutal injury and years of hardship, he enlists the help of lawyer Maître Derville. As Chabert navigates the betrayal of his wife and the complexities of his past, he faces harsh truths about love, identity, and social status. Ultimately, his tragic fate reflects the irony of a war hero ending up destitute, highlighting the injustices that permeate society.

Takeaways

• 🕵️‍♂️ The story is set in Paris in 1818, focusing on Colonel Chabert, who claims to be alive despite being declared dead after the Battle of Eylau.
• 📜 Chabert visits Master Derville, a lawyer, to seek assistance in reclaiming his identity and fortune, which he lost when presumed dead.
• ⚔️ After being injured in battle, Chabert was mistakenly left for dead and ended up in a mental asylum due to the lack of identification.
• 🏰 Eleven years after the battle, he discovers his wife has remarried Count Ferraud and is living as an aristocrat.
• 💔 Derville agrees to help Chabert, but they face significant challenges in proving his identity against his wife's claims.
• 💰 Chabert's fortune was misappropriated by his wife, who now benefits from her new marriage.
• 📅 After months of legal battles, Derville secures documents verifying Chabert's identity, but the financial restitution proves difficult.
• 😡 Chabert learns that his wife had knowledge of his survival when she remarried, leading to feelings of betrayal.
• 🤝 A deal is proposed where Chabert would renounce his rights in exchange for a pension, but his wife refuses to comply.
• 🏥 Ultimately, Chabert ends up in a hospice, reflecting on the tragic irony of his fate as a once-celebrated war hero now living in poverty.

Q & A

What is the setting of 'Le Colonel Chabert'?

The story is set in Paris in 1818.

Who is the main character in the story?

The main character is Colonel Chabert, who was presumed dead after the battle of Eylau.

What event leads to Colonel Chabert being declared dead?

He was gravely injured by a sword blow to the head during the battle of Eylau and was left for dead in a mass grave.

How does Colonel Chabert end up in a state of confusion?

After surviving, he was unable to recover his identification papers due to lack of funds and was subsequently declared insane, leading to his institutionalization.

What challenges does Chabert face upon returning to Paris?

He discovers that his wife has remarried to Count Ferraud and that he must navigate legal obstacles to reclaim his identity and fortune.

What role does Maître Derville play in Chabert's quest?

Maître Derville is the lawyer who agrees to help Chabert reclaim his identity and navigate the legal proceedings regarding his rights.

What emotional struggle does Chabert experience regarding his wife?

Chabert grapples with feelings of betrayal and anger towards his wife, who he learns knew he was alive when she remarried.

How does Madame de Ferraud react to Chabert's return?

She initially attempts to appease him with apologies and offers of friendship, but ultimately refuses to acknowledge his rights.

What does Chabert ultimately decide regarding his rights?

After realizing the extent of his wife's deception, Chabert chooses to renounce his rights rather than owe anything to her.

What is the tragic outcome for Colonel Chabert by the end of the story?

Chabert ends up in a hospice for the elderly, having lost his identity and status, symbolizing the harsh realities of social injustice.