Isola Chapter 9: The Psalms and the Viceroy
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Marguerite tells Damienne she believes her guardian Roberval will return rich, but Damienne scolds her for dreaming. Alys arrives to say Roberval asks for Marguerite. Marguerite hurries to meet him. He is courteous, mentions his business with ships, and says he will return to court for a commission. When Marguerite asks for living expenses, he is offended and instead gives her a beautifully bound book of psalms by Clément Marot, telling her she can “live on these.” Disappointed, Marguerite later bribes Alys to learn more. Alys reveals Roberval is to be Viceroy of New France. Creditors besiege the house, hammering for money. Roberval departs secretly. Marguerite speaks with the secretary, who discloses that the commission is to establish colonies and propagate the Catholic faith. He also warns of the dangers in the New World—hostile natives, starvation, cold, and death without consecrated ground. Marguerite realizes the secretary must sail with his master. The chapter ends with Marguerite alone in the silent house.
Key Events
- Marguerite confides in Damienne about her hopes for Roberval; Damienne dismisses them.
- Alys summons Marguerite to meet Roberval.
- Roberval gives Marguerite a psalter instead of money for her upkeep.
- Marguerite bribes Alys to gather intelligence about Roberval’s plans.
- Alys reports that Roberval will be Viceroy of New France.
- Creditors pound on the doors, demanding payment.
- Roberval leaves the house in secret before dawn.
- Marguerite converses with the secretary, who details the colonial mission and its perils.
- The secretary expresses that no one will remember those who die in the New World.
Character Development
Marguerite
Marguerite becomes more assertive and pragmatic. She openly asks Roberval for financial support and, when refused, turns to covert information-gathering through Alys. Her disappointment with the psalter shows her growing disillusionment with empty gestures. She also exhibits curiosity and daring by questioning the secretary directly.
Damienne
Damienne serves as a cautionary voice; she scolds Marguerite for conspiring and warns against borrowing trouble. Her fear of Roberval’s anger highlights the power imbalance.
Roberval
Roberval remains secretive and evasive. He presents himself as devout through the gift of psalms, yet his household lacks an altar. His financial distress is exposed by the creditors. He abandons Marguerite without provision.
The Secretary
The secretary is an enigmatic figure—loyal to Roberval but sympathetic to Marguerite. He is willing to share information within limits. His final comment about his master’s goodness to him suggests a conflicted loyalty and foreshadows his own fate.
Alys
Alys is resourceful and willing to help Marguerite for a silver coin. She provides crucial information and shows awareness of the household’s precarious state.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Patronage and Dependency
Marguerite’s complete reliance on Roberval for shelter and subsistence is stark. His refusal to grant her money forces her to rely on bribes and her own wits. The chapter underscores the vulnerability of a female ward in a patriarchal system.
Faith and Material Need
Roberval’s gift of a psalm book is a symbol of hollow piety. Marguerite needs firewood and food, not verses. The dissonance between spiritual consolation and physical survival drives the conflict.
Secrecy and Knowledge
Roberval’s secretive nature is a recurring motif. Marguerite must piece together information through servants and the secretary. The chapter contrasts what is openly stated (the psalms) with what is hidden (the commission, the creditors, the colony’s dangers).
Colonial Ambition and Its Perils
The secretary’s description of the New World—hostile natives, death without consecrated ground—tempers the earlier talk of treasure. The colonization project is framed as dangerous and uncertain, not glorious.
Debt and Insecurity
The creditors’ siege reveals that Roberval’s apparent wealth is an illusion. The house is a “shell for money owed.” This material instability mirrors Marguerite’s own precarious position.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 9 marks a turning point in Marguerite’s relationship with Roberval. She stops believing in his promises and begins to act independently. The exposure of Roberval’s debts and his secret departure deepen her isolation. The chapter also introduces the colonial expedition as a central plot driver, with the secretary’s ominous warnings setting the stage for future tragedy. Marguerite’s acquisition of the psalter—a text about lament—foreshadows the suffering to come.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Marguerite feel that the psalter is an inadequate gift? Marguerite needs money for basic necessities like firewood and servants’ loyalty. The book, though beautiful, cannot buy warmth or food. It represents a spiritual consolation that fails to address her material deprivation, highlighting Roberval’s disconnect from her real needs.
2. What does the secretary’s disclosure about the colony reveal about Roberval’s character? The secretary reveals that the colony’s purpose is to propagate Catholicism, yet Roberval has shown no personal piety (no altar, no priest). This suggests that his religious motives are political, not sincere. His secrecy about the mission also indicates a pragmatic, possibly ruthless, approach to leadership.
3. How does the creditors’ siege affect Marguerite’s understanding of her situation? The siege shatters any remaining illusion that Roberval will provide for her. She sees that his wealth is borrowed and his household a facade. The creditors’ pursuit underscores her own helplessness: if they seize everything, she will be left destitute. This realization pushes her to take more active measures to secure information and plan for survival.