Parrot and Olivier in America: Analysis of Major Characters
"Parrot and Olivier in America" explores the complex dynamics between its major characters set against the backdrop of early 19th-century America and France. Olivier, a frail and privileged French nobleman, struggles with his identity and societal expectations while navigating his family’s tumultuous history during Napoleon's era. He is accompanied by Parrot, the son of an English printer, who initially serves as a spy but eventually becomes Olivier’s devoted companion. Their relationship evolves from mutual disdain to a genuine friendship as they embark on a journey to America.
Olivier's love interest, Amelia Godefroy, represents the challenges of class and cultural differences in a transatlantic romance, ultimately leading to heartbreak when societal pressures sever their engagement. The narrative also introduces supporting characters, such as Philip Godefroy, Amelia's father, who embodies American ideals and hospitality, and the Marquis de Tilbot, whose past and motivations intertwine with the lives of both Olivier and Parrot. Through these characters, the story examines themes of identity, loyalty, and the clash between old-world nobility and the emerging American ethos.
Parrot and Olivier in America: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Peter Carey
First published: 2010
Genre: Novel
Locale: France and United States
Plot: Historical drama
Time: 1800s
Olivier-Jean-Baptiste de Clarel de Barfleur de Garmont, is the son of a French nobleman during the time of Napoleon. As a child he is weak, sickly, and is treated by doctors called as many as 53 times in a single year. He describes himself as “the most restless and unhealthy creature imaginable.” Despite his frail nature and poor eyesight, Olivier spends much time afield and becomes an expert marksman. He is the son of privilege and grows up surrounded by wealth and all its trappings, but his noble lineage also is a constant threat to his and his parents' lives (his grandfather went to the guillotine). He is intelligent and becomes a lawyer and attends numerous lectures with his best friend, Thomas de Blacqueville. His father becomes a judge who marries young couples to prevent the men from having to serve in Napoleon's army. His mother—Henriette Luce—is a beauty who spends a large portion of her time resting with a wet cloth on her face. Olivier's mother fears deeply for his safety and has Marie-Jean de Villiers (aka Marquis de Tilbot), a war hero who is in love with her, spy on him. Marquis sends his friend M. Parroquet (Parrot) to follow Olivier and eavesdrop on his conversations and report their contents. Olivier is kidnapped at his mother's request and placed aboard a ship bound for America on the pretense that he is writing a book about the American prison system. Again, Parrot is sent to watch him. Both men are miserable and barely tolerate each other, but eventually develop a friendship as Parrot becomes Olivier's servant. Olivier becomes the toast of New York and falls deeply in love with Amelia Godefroy, an American, and becomes engaged. She ends the engagement when overhearing Olivier explain to her father that Amelia, an American commoner, never will be accepted by his family.
M. Parroquet/Parrot, is the son of Jack Larrit, an English journeyman printer who raises him. His mother dies when he is an infant; thus, he never knows her but misses her “all [his] life.” He is a moderately talented artist as a child and finds employment along with his father in the service of Mr. Piggott, a printer. Besides delivering the printed materials, Parrot must attend to Algernon Watkins, an engraver and counterfeiter Piggot has secreted away in a hidden room behind the fireplace in his house. Authorities raid the facility and Parrot escapes arrest, but his father presumably is captured and executed. They never meet again. Parrot is discovered wandering the English countryside by Marie-Jean de Villiers (aka Marquis de Tilbot), a one-armed Frenchman of dubious profession, who takes the boy to Australia and France. While in Australia Parrot marries and has a child who are left behind when Tilbot takes him away. As an adult, Parrot is called upon by the Marquis initially to spy on Olivier de Garmont and report on his actions, but, ultimately, is enlisted to accompany Olivier to America. Parrot brings his girlfriend, a talented artist named Mathilde Christian, and her mother to New York. Parrot initially despises Olivier while acting as his secretary, but they develop a friendship lasting several years until Parrot leaves Olivier's service. He buys a house in New York's Hudson Valley and establishes his own printing business, while Mathilde gains some notoriety as an artist.
Marie-Jean de Villiers/Marquis de Tilbot, is known as the hero of the Vendée for leading a group of peasants in a battle against revolutionaries in France during which he lost an arm. A big, ruddy man, the Marquis is in love with Olivier's mother, the Comtess de Garmont and attends to her every whim. The Marquis travels to England, where he is involved with a counterfeiting operation run by a printer named Mr. Piggot. After the English authorities raid the counterfeiting ring, the Marquis comes across a boy called Parrot, who escaped from the raid, wandering across the English countryside and they remain together for many years. The Marquis takes Parrot to France, where he continues to woo the married Comtess and later sends Parrot to spy on her son, Olivier, initially in France; later Parrot is forced to accompany Olivier to New York. During the Marquis and Parrot's voyage from England to France, a fellow passenger's curiosity about them causes Tilbot to break the man's neck and throw his body overboard during a storm.
Mathilde Christian, is Parrot's young French lover and a talented artist. She and Parrot live together with her mother in France. She and her mother very reluctantly join Parrot on his journey to New York. Mathilde and Parrot argue on the ship and she refuses to speak to him for most of the voyage. She becomes popular on board for painting portraits of fellow passengers, including Olivier. Parrot, however, throws the Olivier portrait overboard. After landing in New York, Mathilde is diagnosed with smallpox and Parrot cures her with olive oil. While Parrot is away attending to Olivier, Mathilde becomes involved in a real estate scam with Mr. Eckerd, a passenger she met during the voyage. Eckerd lends money to people to buy houses, which they burn for the insurance money. Mathilde and Parrot eventually settle in New York's Hudson Valley, where they find success as artists.
Amelia Godefroy, is a young, wealthy American women living in Connecticut. Her father is a non-practicing doctor, an onion farmer, and resides on the board of the local prison, which Olivier has come to inspect. Her beauty catches the eye of Olivier and the two fall passionately in love and plan to marry. Amelia desires to live in France after their wedding, but overhears Olivier tell her father that his noble-pedigreed parents will never accept an American commoner as family, and that they must remain in the United States. Distraught, Amelia breaks off the engagement.
Philip Godefroy, is a wealthy American non-practicing doctor, an onion farmer, and member of the Connecticut Prison Board. He is the doting father of Amelia, a young beauty who becomes briefly engaged to Olivier. Philip, a ruddy outdoor type who doesn't like to be at home, takes the prissy Olivier on a tour of the American South and Washington, D.C. He becomes very fond of Olivier—the admiration is mutual—and is thrilled when the Frenchman asks for Amelia's hand in marriage, but pleads with his future son-in-law not to take his daughter to live in France. Later, however, when Amelia professes her desire to live in France, Philip gives Olivier permission to take her away.
Mr. Eckerd, is a Jewish passenger aboard the Havre, the ship that Olivier, Parrot, and Mathilde sail to America. He and Mathilde later become involved in a scheme to buy houses for the purpose of burning them down for insurance money. He also produces a play about the French Revolution.
Mr. Peek, is a passenger aboard the Havre, the ship that Olivier, Parrot, and Mathilde sail to America. He is the president of the Bank of New York and helps establish Olivier when the Frenchman arrives in the Unites States with no money or housing.
Robert O'Hara, is a young American of dubious background who acts briefly as Olivier's servant in New York. He presents Olivier with a pistol, which actually belongs to a Mr. Astor. When Olivier and Parrot are threatened in the streets, Olivier shoots one of the assailants and the two men are jailed. O'Hara later manages to retrieve the pistol from the authorities.