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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Chapter 65
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of the novel ranges from gloomy and suspenseful to celebratory, depending on how successful the musketeers have been in their conflicts with the cardinal and Milady. Dumas achieves whatever mood he is trying to create through vivid descriptions of the environment that match the events of the moment. For example, in Chapter 65, the musketeers, Lord de Winter, and the executioner ride to ambush Milady on a "dark, stormy night:"
The storm was approaching; lightning flashes followed each other in quick succession, thunder could now be heard, and the wind was blowing briskly across the plain, ruffling the plumes of the musketeers’ hats.
The riders made their horses break into a rapid trot.
The approaching thunderstorm creates the sense that the "storm" of these men's conflict with Milady is finally about to break. When a storm gathers, atmospheric pressure drops perceptibly. Lightning charges the air with electricity that can be felt physically. The ruffling of the feathers on the musketeers' hats reminds the reader of how precarious all these men's positions are. Just as a gust of wind could knock off their hats, Milady could kill or disgrace any one of them. The musketeers' resolution to ride into the storm encourages readers to brace themselves against the coming conflict just as the musketeers brace themselves against the wind. In this and other scenes, Dumas uses imagery that engages all the reader's senses—not only sight, but also sound, touch, and even smell and taste at times—to create whatever feeling is appropriate for the moment.
Related Themes:
