Shih Tzu (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} shihtzu) wrote,@ 2008-03-24 22:04:00 |
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Eugénie is a lesbian, Part 1
So as I mentioned, I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo for the first time. The translator's foreword had prepared me for the notion that (contrary to the anime) Eugénie, Albert's fiancée, was more into the femmes than the hommes, but even so, I wasn't expecting basically every reference to her to more or less amount to "Eugénie, the lesbian, said 'Hello, I am a lesbian,' as she sat quietly lesbianing."
Think I'm kidding? Let's start with Chapter LIII, "Robert Le Diable," where she first makes her appearance as most major characters engage in gossip at the opera.
So as I mentioned, I'm reading The Count of Monte Cristo for the first time. The translator's foreword had prepared me for the notion that (contrary to the anime) Eugénie, Albert's fiancée, was more into the femmes than the hommes, but even so, I wasn't expecting basically every reference to her to more or less amount to "Eugénie, the lesbian, said 'Hello, I am a lesbian,' as she sat quietly lesbianing."
Think I'm kidding? Let's start with Chapter LIII, "Robert Le Diable," where she first makes her appearance as most major characters engage in gossip at the opera.
[Château-Renaud speaking to Albert] 'What, my dear fellow! They find you a fiancée built like Diana the Huntress, and you are not happy!'
'Precisely. ... This Diana the Huntress, always surrounded by her nymphs, frightens me a little. I'm afraid she might treat me like Actaeon.' (599)
As Château-Renaud said, she was Diana the Huntress, but with something even firmer and more muscular in her beauty. As for her upbringing, if there was anything to be said against it, it was that, like some traits of her physiognomy, it seemed more appropriate to the other sex. (600)
[Of Monte Cristo's mistress Haydée] 'The woman, Monsieur Lucien,' said Eugénie; 'have you noticed how beautiful she is?'I'm not cherry-picking my quotes here, either; this is seriously close to the sum total of her presence in this chapter. In other words, sweet. I'm totally hoping that the hints I've read prove true and she winds up running off with her lady piano teacher. Book Albert (as opposed to anime Albert) is a douche anyway.
'Really, Mademoiselle, you are the only woman I know who is so generous in speaking about others of your own sex.' (605)
[The baroness, speaking of Haydée again] 'But what makes a princess, my dear? Diamonds, and she's covered in them.'
'Too much so, in fact,' said Eugénie. 'She would be more beautiful without them, because you could see her neck and her wrists, which are delightfully shapely.'
'There speaks the artist!' said Mme Danglars. 'See what an enthusiast she is!'
'I love everything beautiful,' said Eugénie.
'So what do you think of the count?' said Debray. 'He strikes me as not too bad himself.'
'The count?' said Eugénie, as if she had not previously considered looking at him. (606)
[Albert] 'You know, Countess G--- claims [the count] is a vampire.'
'Countess G---? Is she back, then?' asked the baroness.
'In that side box,' Eugénie said. 'Look, mother, almost opposite us: she's that woman with the magnificent blonde hair.' (606)
'Eugénie,' the baroness went on, turning to her daughter, 'the Count of Monte Cristo!'
The count bowed and Mlle Danglars gave a slight nod of the head.
'You are accompanied by a splendid young woman, Monsieur le Comte,' said Eugénie. 'Is she your daughter?' (609-610)
