AMDG
I am wondering why Philippe's brother-in-law, the one who had made Anna Bella his mistress, was the one who met one of Marie's attackers in a duel. He had nothing to gain by it and would have lost nothing if he hadn't gone through with it.
I've wondered about this myself and I have to say that I think it's because Vincent felt badly about the plight of the gens de couleur libre. He had abandoned Anna Bella because he saw the true horror of placage; the fact that, although they were privileged, the families involved suffered horribly and, if deprived of their provider, had no other way to maintain their livlihood. Basically, I think he just felt guilty about the entire institution of placage and wanted to help those who had been disadvantaged by it.
shareI think it also has to do with the huge emphasis that was placed on family honor. She may not have been as "respected" as some, but she was a child of one of his family members, and his honor required that he meet in a duel with the ones who disgraced her.
shareAMDG
Melanchonyperfect and Titanide: Thank you for your replies. :)
I recently got to read the novel on which this mini-series is based and can confirm that your opinions of Vincent's motives are correct. He felt an obligation to avenge Marie's honour, since she was the daughter of his brother-in-law. He had to do it instead of Marcel because a coloured man could not raise a gun against a white man, no matter how good the reason. Yet he was not just being a true gentleman (albeit one who had made some poor choices of his own with Anna Bella), because his disgust with Marie's attackers was mixed with disgust for himself and the equally exploitative role he was playing in that society.
It's too bad that it wasn't explained more clearly during the movie. Vincent is really a more complex, confused and sympathetic character than he was portrayed.
I very recently re-read the book (after I made my reply) and yes, the fact that he was bound to defend Marie's honor by her relationship to him played very heavily into his decision to challenge her rapists' to duels. Another thing that I felt wasn't as clear in the movie as it was in the book was the ever-present and very serious racism against the people of color. In the movie it is hinted at and you know that they don't have the same rights as whites, but there is much more viciousness and ferocity to the sharp distinction between the races in the book. Of course, you can never fit an entire book into a movie or even a mini-series, but this one does do a pretty good job.
"Yet he was not just being a true gentleman (albeit one who had made some poor choices of his own with Anna Bella), because his disgust with Marie's attackers was mixed with disgust for himself and the equally exploitative role he was playing in that society."
Amazing observation; exactly what I was trying to get at.
"Death cannot stop true love; all it can do is delay it for a little while."
Hello,
I haven't seen this movie in awhile, so I pray that I describe the scene correctly.
Theres a scene where a woman is revealing something secret to another person, news that effects the listener, she wears a bandana around her head, and she's drinking a liquid, she's reclyedn against something, I think a bed or something...she just conveys intenceness...sorry that I can't be more specific..any idea who she might be?
Hmm, you could be describing Lisette (the main characters' (Marcel's) slave and half-sister) when she's getting drunk and bating Marie (Marcel's sister) about the fact that she is about to be forced into placage.
"Death cannot stop true love; all it can do is delay it for a little while."
Yea, I found it hard to believe that he had the moral compentency to avenge Marie's rape, but turn his back on his own son. They both had black in them so what was the difference? I don't think he would have risked his life in a dual for Marie given that his loyalty was aligned with his sister whom was no fan of placages. I found this part to be unrealistic, but it made for a good movie. I'm glad the rapists did not get away.
shareI think he did it out of family loyalty they are related not by blood his sisters husband was marcellus and Maries father.
Back then family was everything.
I thought this movie was great. I would love to see The Mayfair Witches brought to TV.
Anne Rice is a great writer, I love all
Of her books. Can't wait to see Tale of the body thief.