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Baroness Orczy's The Scarlet Pimpernel

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8/10/15
The Scarlet Pimpernel
In the novel, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy, a hero with an unlikely identity saves the French aristocrats from a horrific fate of death by the guillotine, in this swashbuckling tale.
The Scarlet Pimpernel takes place in France and England in 1792. During this time the French Revolution is taking place. The commoners want revenge on the wrong doings of the French aristocrats. The commoner’s idea of “revenge” is death by guillotine. They aren’t just killing the men that performed these so called acts of treason; they are murdering innocent women and children too. In England the English are outraged, they can’t believe that the people of France are turning their backs on their royalty and brutally murdering …show more content…

Chauvelin waits in the room but only to find Percy sleeping on the couch, and no one else shows. Chauvelin warns Lady Blakeney if they don’t find the identity of the Pimpernel her brother will die. The Blakeneys go home, but underneath all the stress, Marguerite explains to Percy that her brother is in trouble, and he promises to help. He departs, only to tell Margot that he is going up north. Lady Blakeney sneaks around Sir Percy’s study, to discover a ring with a scarlet pimpernel on it. Lady Blakeney discovers that Sir Percy is actually the Scarlet Pimpernel! She realizes that she has betrayed him by helping Chauvelin find his whereabouts. With the help of the League she embarks on a journey to France to save her brother and husband. Percy outwits Chauvelin and his soldiers, and escapes them, but they are hot on his trail. The French men find Lady Blakeney and capture her. The soldiers enlist help from an old Jewish man; he claims to know where Sir Percy is. They ambush the hut, but no one is inside. This makes Chauvelin angry, so he has his men beat the old Jew and leave Lady Blakeney with him in the middle of the woods. Once they are gone, the old Jew reveals himself to be Percy in disguise. Back to safety on the boat, Lady Blakeney, her brother, and Sir Percy all set sail to England! Percy and Marguerite are finally reconciled, having freed her brother and the aristocrats. Percy promises to make sure Chauvelin never steps foot in English noble society

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