Characters
Countess Aurelia
Countess Aurelia (oh-ray-LYAH), known as the Madwoman of Chaillot (shah-YOH), embodies the spirit of beauty and gentleness in Paris. She lives perpetually in a moment when her life was at its most enchanting. Confronted by the harsh realities of materialism, manifesting as a syndicate planning to drill for oil beneath Paris' streets, she rises as a protector of the delicate and the beautiful. Recognizing that conventional justice cannot combat these threats, she devises a plan with her like-minded gentle friends to eradicate the financiers. Her successful elimination of these materialists heralds the return of spring's beauty, and she is celebrated for saving humanity from exploitation.
Mme Constance
Mme Constance (koh[n]-STAHNS), dubbed the Madwoman of Passy (pah-SEE), is a close ally of Countess Aurelia. Alongside the other madwomen, she is instrumental in the tribunal that tries and convicts the materialists, asserting the value of beauty and integrity over greed and destruction.
Mlle Gabrielle
Mlle Gabrielle (gay-BRYEHL), the Madwoman of St. Sulpice, joins Countess Aurelia and her companions in their quest to preserve the essence of Paris. As part of the tribunal, she helps to judge the materialists, showcasing her role as a defender of the artistic spirit and humane values.
Mme Josephine
Mme Josephine (zhoh-zay-FEEN), known as the Madwoman of la Concorde (koh[n]-KOHRD), is a vital member of the tribunal. Alongside Mme Constance and Mlle Gabrielle, she works to bring the materialists to justice, ensuring that those who prioritize profit over beauty face their due consequences.
The Ragpicker
The Ragpicker is one of the gentle individuals who populate Countess Aurelia's world. He lends his voice to the defense during the trial of the materialists, representing the common people's perspective and underscoring the disconnect between material wealth and genuine value.
The President, the Baron, the Broker, and the Prospector
The President, the Baron, the Broker, and the Prospector stand as the embodiment of materialistic ambition and destruction, seeking to drill for oil beneath Paris. These figures, oblivious to the beauty they aim to obliterate, become the antagonists against Countess Aurelia and her ensemble of gentle souls. Their fate is sealed when they are deceived into following a path to supposed riches, only to meet their end in the sewers of Paris, thus symbolizing the downfall of greed.
Pierre
Pierre (pyehr) is a young man initially embroiled in the materialists' plot to bomb the city architect, a vocal opponent of the oil-drilling plans. However, his conscience leads him to hesitate, and he contemplates suicide. Countess Aurelia intervenes, showing him the beauty and value of life, ultimately steering him away from despair and into the possibility of redemption.
The Sewer Man
The Sewer Man, another of Countess Aurelia's gentle allies, plays a crucial role by revealing the secret passageway to the sewers of Paris. This path becomes the downfall of the materialists, who are led into the darkness, never to emerge again. His knowledge of the city's underbelly is pivotal to the plan's success.
The Waiter, the Little Man, the Street Singer, the Flower Girl, and the Shoe Lace Peddlar
The Waiter, the Little Man, the Street Singer, the Flower Girl, and the Shoe Lace Peddlar represent the free and gentle spirit of Paris. These characters, part of the vibrant tapestry of the city, contribute to the collective voice that stands against the encroachment of materialism, highlighting the richness of life that thrives beyond the confines of wealth and exploitation.
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