An Analysis of Two Scenes from Anne Radcliffe's The Romance of the Forest

Résumé du document

The most important characters of the story, La Motte and his wife, are well known. We already know a lot about them for, as the story opens, they are leaving Paris because La Motte is being persecuted for the debts he has accumulated by gambling. In the preceding scene, the La Motte family have lost their way in the dark night. La Motte himself is 'captured' and held prisoner for a little while by a group of 'ruffians' after attempting to seek refuge in their house. He is, therefore, worried about his plans of escape which seems to be ruined, and he is feeling dubious about his future. However, he is to find out that it is not him whom the ruffians are after, but that they need to get rid of a young girl of eighteen who is to be forcefully left in his care. We witness a complication of the plot and a greater amount of uncertainty and mystery as to the future development of the story. On the other hand, the passage develops further La Motte's character, and attempts to present his reactions in a more complex situation than those in which we have seen him up to this moment. One other principal function of the passage is, to introduce another major character, or rather the most important one, that of Adeline who will at once cause the quickening of the pace of the narrative. She will establish a greater tension in the future by putting La Motte into danger of being discovered but also by becoming the cause of every problem in the novel.

Extraits

[...] As we know from the previous passages, the scene takes place at night. The travellers are lost and perplexed and fall in the hands of ruthless bandits. After “pointing a pistol to his breast”, the first words of their leader are “Your are wholly in our power.” and then repeats that assistance can reach you.” The danger and uncertainty of the region are shown through the haunt of the “banditti” or “ruffians”, as La Motte calls them, who know no law and live by preying on innocent travellers. [...]

[...] However, this description also serves other purposes and mainly to illustrate the beauty and strength of Adeline's innocence. We have numerous examples of this dispersed throughout the passage. Some of them are directly connected with Adeline's physical appearance, while others tend to present her as an unreal vision of goodness against the general impression we get from the villains, that of vice. She is a “beautiful beauty” is emphasized once again on line 21 and she is finally a “lovely girl”. [...]

[...] He is of course concerned with his own interest dreaded to discover his carriage chance of being detected by the emissaries of justice”) and refuses to have his life put in danger. That is why he always doubts and tries to reason and think “these reflections passed over in his mind in tumultuous rapidity”. But although he calculates his chances of escape, La Motte is at the same time much less powerful than Adeline for she “assailed his heart”. He “found it impossible to contemplate [her] with indifference”. [...]

[...] We know that because he is easily influenced he must now flee everybody. La Motte is a very complicated character and he is thoroughly confused within. He is first of all “surprised” at seeing Adeline but his surprise quickly gives way to “agitation”. He is then “relieved from his apprehensions” and his silence is that of “astonishment” and not “hesitation”. But then is almost immediately “perplexed with new fears” and “wearied with apprehension”. Just as at the beginning he seems to be easily manipulated, another side of him becomes apparent here. [...]

[...] They are more than simple apprehension of being discovered and are as if connected with the setting - the abbey and the forest. The influence the forest has on La Motte is very particular. He goes to the forest not only to remain in isolation from Madame La Motte and Adeline for a while so that he can remain alone with his thoughts. He seeks consolation in it and a certain kind of purity. It is as if he wanted a rebirth but could not obtain it because his relationship with nature is not sufficiently spiritual. [...]