One of the main characters of the novel by A. Dumas - Athos, Comte de La Fere

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Interest in the novels of A. Dumas père (1802–1870) does not fade largely thanks to his characters. They are full of active, energetic and cheerful attitude towards reality, which they dynamically and tirelessly transform. The noble Comte de La Fere, for all his melancholy, never hesitates when his friends need help.

About the author and his works

The Musketeers trilogy was written from 1844 to 1850. These three works are loved by readers due to the intrigue that keeps them in suspense, sparkling dialogues and the characters of the main characters, who are true to the noble code of honor and their friendship. In addition, not only fictional persons, but also historical characters act in them. Musketeers in all novels are opposed to the nobles, who are characterized by arrogance, deceit and callousness.

The very first novel "Three Musketeers" immediately showed A. Dumas as a master who knows how to present history in the form of a colorful action filled with violent intrigues, duels, conspiracies,built on the contrasts of good and evil. The trilogy covers a significant period in the history of France from 1625 to the time when the monarchy of Louis XIV unleashed a war in Holland, seizing foreign lands. We turn our attention to the ideal nobleman like Athos, Comte de La Fere.

Mr. Athos' environment

Melancholy, immersed in his thoughts, the enigmatic Athos serves in the royal musketeers. His real name is known only to M. de Treville. Everyone treats Athos with great respect, not only because he is an excellent swordsman, but also because he has an undeniable nobility. It manifests itself in every gesture, in any word or deed. At the very beginning of the novel, the seriously wounded Athos appears at the direction of his boss for an appointment with him. He, immaculately dressed, smart, with a firm step, enters the study, and Monsieur de Treville joyfully rushes to him, shaking hands strongly. No one realized how badly Athos felt: such was his endurance when he arrived in the regiment, performing his duty. So when, after a stormy greeting, he faints, everyone is amazed. Porthos and Aramis carefully carry Athos out in their arms, followed by the healer.

It should be emphasized that the friendship of these young people, very different in their characters, carries respect for each other and active participation in joint affairs. Mr. Athos is older than his friends, he is about thirty years old, and he treats them with a special patronage, which no one disputes. He will especially single out the young Mr. DʹArtagnan, when, after a misunderstanding, the inseparable trinity recognizes him as his friend.

How Mr. Athos took part in common affairs

In the first part of the novel, when DʹArtagnan goes to England to save the queen from imminent disgrace if she does not have diamond pendants at the ball, the Comte de La Fere, whom no one yet knows by this name, invites friends to accompany and protect their young friend, without delving into the essence of the assignment. It is entrusted to D'Artagnan and must remain his secret. Unconditional trust between friends is the basis of their relationship. Later, in the second part, having overheard the conversation between Cardinal Richelieu and Milady, the count shows, as always, incredible restraint and self-control and takes away from his ex-wife, whom he considered dead, a document signed by the cardinal and giving her the right to destroy D'Artagnan, hated by her, at any moment. The Count calmly puts a gun to her forehead and promises to shoot within one or two seconds. Countess Winter is well aware that no tricks of seduction will help her cope with the iron character of her ex-husband, and angrily gives such an important paper.

Graph name analysis

The name Athos is written in French as Athos. Which is consonant with the name of Mount Athos in Greece. Therefore, when, instead of D'Artagnan, he consciously goes to the Bastille and behaves in it completely independently and imperturbably, then in the 13th chapter, the Commissioner of the Bastille nervously shouts out: “Yes, this is not a man, but some kind of mountain!” Dumas borrowed the names of all the Musketeers from Sandra's book, and they puzzled the writer. Athos, Porthos and Aramisactually existed.

From scarce information it is known that Athos was born in the province of Bearn. He was an excellent swordsman and died in 1643, most likely after one of the duels, since his body was found near the Pre-au-Clair market, a favorite place for duelists. In addition, when Dumas worked on this image, it is assumed that he had in mind his friend, Mr. Adolphe Leven. He was a Swedish count and fatherly raised the young Dumas. Their friendship continued throughout the life of the writer.

Portrait, external image of the Comte de La Fere

Extremely briefly the writer describes Athos: "He was beautiful in body and soul."

Once again, in passing, he mentions graceful white hands, which, unlike Aramis, he did not particularly care for. At the time of the beginning of the action, he is about 30 years old, after twenty years he himself talks about his age - 49 years old, and in the last part of the trilogy he is already 61 years old.

Speech characteristics

The count's speech is always very concise, and he speaks only on business. He speaks the language better than the eloquent Aramis. Athos happened to correct his friend's misused tenses. From the text it is clear that he received a very good education and freely, with a grin, understands Latin, which is often used by the same Aramis. Comte de La Fere is such a man of few words that he taught his servant Grimaud to communicate with him only by signs, without using speech. In noisy companies, he prefers to be silent. Everyone is used to these oddities and perceive them as an integral character trait. The Comte de La Fère stood out among the Musketeers, who were much less refined compared to him.

In what apartment did Athos live

Hero rented two modest rooms on Ferou Street not far from the Luxembourg Gardens. He had three subjects that he treasured very much. First, a sword hanging on the wall, belonging to the time of Francis I. It is richly decorated, especially the hilt, with precious stones. Secondly, he had a ceremonial portrait of a nobleman in an elegant costume of the era of Henry III with the Order of St. Spirit on the chest. Athos was like him. Their common features indicated that this noble cavalier was the ancestor of a simple musketeer. Thirdly, he had a casket of amazing jewelry work, on which the same coat of arms was applied as on the portrait and sword.

Count's composure and endurance

When the time came for the Musketeers and DʹArtagnan to gather in La Rochelle, none of them had money for uniforms. Athos, Comte de La Fere, did not fuss. He lay down on the bed and said that the money would come to him.

They came in the form of a family ring with sapphire surrounded by diamonds, which once belonged to him, but he gave it on the night of love. This ring was shown to the Count by the Guardsman D'Artagnan, who received it from Lady Winter. His friends sold it, and the money was divided equally. So they prepared for a military campaign.

Introducing the life of Athos

DʹArtagnan found out about Athos' previous life by accident. Hefreed his friend from the cellar with wine, where he spent two weeks in voluntary imprisonment. The continuous use of wine made Athos more talkative, and he told his young friend the story of his marriage to a beauty who turned out to be a branded thief on her shoulder. The Comte de La Fere did not hesitate for long and hanged her, believing that she had died, and went to serve the king as a simple musketeer. But, as it turned out later, this clever person got out and remained alive.

Her names were Anne Bayle, Buckson Charlotte, Lady Winter. The Comte de La Fere found out all this before he tried her and handed her over to the executioner. Finally, the criminal who killed her husband, Count Winter, who killed Madame Bonacieux, the naive Protestant Felton and the young monk, is dead forever. That's where she belongs. But not everything is so simple.

The book "A word in defense of Count da La Fere" by K. Kostin

According to readers, it is long and rather boring. It consists mainly of reasoning that this way and that turns the story of how the earl hanged his wife when he saw the brand on her shoulder. After the time spent on reading it, there is only one consolation: in the “Word in Defense of the Comte de La Fere”, the author nevertheless justifies the count and considers his act to be right. It is not clear why it was necessary to spend so many words to draw a banal conclusion. Milady was introduced to us by the author as a criminal. For him, she was the embodiment of absolute evil. Dumas was convinced of this. What more proof is needed?

Meeting of DʹArtagnan and Cardinal Richelieu

Cardinal calmlyreacted to the death of the dangerous Lady Winter. He gave a patent for the rank of lieutenant to a young man, saying that he could write any name in it. With the patent, DʹArtagnan hurried to Athos, but he refused this rank, saying: “This is too small for the Comte de La Fere.”

How Athos has changed since retiring

Having received the inheritance, the count left for his family castle Brazhelon. He completely changed while raising his adopted son. The Count quit drinking and became a role model for a growing child. The son of the Comte de La Fere brought him back to life, with him his tormented soul rejuvenated. He could not give him his title. However, he did not leave him a commoner either. The title of Raoul, son of the Comte de La Fere, is Viscount de Bragelonne.

He grew up in a simple but refined environment with family portraits, armorial silverware and became a copy of his noble father: a handsome young man who is not ashamed to be presented in high society by his mother, the Duchess de Chevreuse. The young man was brought up according to all the laws of honor that can be found in the novel and which are characteristic of his father: directness, endurance, composure, protection of the weak. The young chevalier is true to his word. He will not tolerate humiliation of his dignity from anyone and is able to support a friend, show mercy to a defeated enemy, knows how to keep secrets, and is always ready to do his duty.

Relation to Athos of other characters

According to the author, the count is the ideal of a nobleman and a role model. He does not tolerate even the slightest humiliation, is faithful to his word of honor, knows how to keep secrets, both his own andand strangers, always supports comrades, ready to sacrifice in the name of duty.

Enemies respect him, and the cunning and curious DʹArtagnan simply idolizes, realizing that he will never achieve the aristocratic behavior of Athos, even in small things. Also under his influence are Aramis and Porthos, who tacitly acknowledge his superiority. He immediately puts the dressed-down Porthos in the background with his elegance, taking just a step in a simple musketeer cloak and throwing his head back. No one knows how to arrange a dinner and seat guests better than him. Athos is generous: not having a single sous behind his soul, after a duel with the English in an inn, he gives the vanquished purse to the servants, but not to his own, but to the English. With this noble act, he impresses everyone, both the French and their opponents.

Assessment of the novel and its characters by Dumas' contemporaries and in our time

The novel-feuilleton was published chapter by chapter, which ended in the most interesting places. Readers eagerly awaited the next issue of the newspaper. This kept them on their toes and was one of the reasons for the novel's popularity. Intrigues and political events (the execution of Charles I, the English king) draw attention to the Dumas trilogy. Unfading images of heroes make up the appeal of Dumas's works today, among which Athos, Comte de La Fere stands out in particular.