When the Mountain Fell: Analysis of Major Characters
"When the Mountain Fell: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the profound impact of an avalanche on a small Swiss community and the lives of its characters. Central to the narrative is Séraphin Carrupt, an elderly shepherd whose tragic death in the avalanche marks a significant turning point for the others. Antoine Pont, a young shepherd who survives the disaster against all odds, emerges as a symbol of resilience as he navigates the challenges of recovery and the emotional turmoil of loss. His wife, Thérèse Pont, embodies courage and hope, particularly when she must confront the reality of her husband’s survival and the implications of impending motherhood.
Supporting characters like Philomène Maye, Thérèse's mother, showcase the theme of familial protection amidst crisis, while Old Barthélémy's fate highlights the fragility of life in the mountains. Maurice Nendaz serves as a pivotal figure, illustrating the foreboding nature of the avalanche through his awareness of the danger. Lastly, Old Plon’s belief in ghosts underlines the theme of memory and loss. Together, these characters paint a vivid portrait of survival, grief, and the interconnectedness of community in the face of nature’s unpredictability. This analysis invites readers to explore the depth of human experience and resilience in the wake of tragedy.
When the Mountain Fell: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Charles-Ferdinand Ramuz
First published: Derborence, 1934 (English translation, 1947)
Genre: Novel
Locale: Switzerland
Plot: Regional
Time: Eighteenth century
Séraphin Carrupt (say-rah-FAN kah-REWPT), an elderly Swiss shepherd. He is killed when an avalanche slides at night onto the mountain pasture where he is keeping his cattle.
Antoine Pont (ahn-TWAHN pohn), a young, newly married Swiss shepherd who is thought dead after the avalanche covers the mountain pasture. Miraculously, he is not killed. Living on cheese, he burrows his way out of the mass of rock and earth after two long months. He courageously wants to go back to rescue Séraphin Carrupt, his companion, but his wife dissuades him, knowing the old man is dead.
Thérèse Pont (tay-REHZ), Antoine's young wife. She realizes on the night when the avalanche falls that she is going to have a child. When her husband returns, she can scarcely believe that she is not seeing a ghost. Only she is courageous enough to follow her husband back to the scene of the avalanche to dissuade him from trying to dig out his companion.
Philomène Maye (fee-loh-MEHN mah-YEH), Thérèse's mother, who tries to shield her daughter from news of her husband's supposed death.
Old Barthélémy (bahr-tay-lay-MEE), a shepherd who lives through the avalanche but dies as he is being carried down the mountain for treatment.
Maurice Nendaz (moh-REES nahn-DAHZ), a lame old man, the first villager to realize that what he hears is an avalanche, not a storm in the distance.
Old Plon (plohn), a shepherd who thinks he hears noises under the huge pile of rock and earth left by the avalanche and assumes that he is hearing ghosts.