Desmond volume III

   Most striking to me in volume III of Smith's Desmond is the representation of the aristocracy, most notably, during Geraldine's departure from Meudon. Desmond, upon learning of Geraldine's hasty departure in search of Mr. Verney, is troubled by accounts from the people in Paris that the route in which Geraldine goes in search of her husband are "infested by associates of aristocrats." Smith then goes on to say on page 382 that the aristocrats "armed those who were content still to remain in vassalage...[and] sent out parties to attack and destroy all whose religious or political creed differed from their own." Smith uses such passages to sway readers into feeling anger at the injustices and evils the aristocracy employ in order to regain their titles and power over the common people by ravaging the provinces and bringing destruction and terror "against the liberties of the country." While the revolutionary forces are portrayed as "armed only in defense of their families and their freedom" Smith wants readers to see the revolutionists as acting in self defense and innocent of blame.

    In Geraldine's letter to Fanny in letter XXIII Smith continues the negative connotations towards the aristocracy and their associates. The further south Geraldine travels the worse the conditions of France become with even the landscape itself appearing "more dreary than the wildest heath in England" and having "hardly any traces of civilization." While the company in which Geraldine finds herself appear "wild and savage," "hideous figures," and in Geraldine's own words she "fancied [herself] surrounded by daemons." Smith's choice of language forces readers to perceive a negative view of the aristocracy in an attempt to further promote pro-revolutionary thought.

    Upon Geraldine's rescue by Desmond and their arrival at the castle of Count d'Hauteville Desmond begins questioning a banditti about the whereabouts of the Count and the other noblemen. The banditti relays that both the Count and the nobleman have fled from the municipal guard despite vowing that they were "determined never to submit." Here Smith cleverly calls out the aristocracy as cowards not able to defend their own homes and property or to risk their wellbeing to attain what they believe is right. This lack of conviction is starkly contrasted by the revolutionist movement exemplified by Montfleuri when he states in letter XXV that in order to destroy despotism and obtain liberty for France he would "sacrifice..life itself."