The Lady of the Camellias - Alexandre Dumas fils

At the age of 24, Alexandre Dumas fils wrote his famous work, *The Lady of the Camellias*, based on his own experiences with love. How does a courtesan maintain her noble purity amid a life of luxury and decadence? How does a young man transform from a devoted lover to a destroyer of love, consumed by hatred? Alexandre Dumas fils takes us deep into this tragic love story.

The author of this book is a 19th-century French Romantic writer named Alexandre Dumas fils, the son of the famous French author "Alexandre Dumas"

Born in 1824, he was a French playwright and novelist. Influenced by his father, he developed a passion for literary creation and became an important writer during the transition of French drama from Romanticism to Realism.

Alexandre Dumas fils published The Lady of the Camellias in 1848, and it became his most famous work.

Transcript

Since the publication of *The Lady of the Camellias*, Alexandre Dumas fils became an instant success. This work established his literary reputation, placing him on equal footing with his father, Alexandre Dumas père. People spoke with great interest about how the two Dumas formed a rare "father-son duo" in the history of French and even world literature. For Dumas fils, *The Lady of the Camellias* also held a special significance: 0:13

it earned him his father's recognition. When Dumas fils was born, his mother was a poor seamstress, and his father, at the time, was an unknown copyist. However, as Dumas père’s social status and financial situation improved, he began to look down on the seamstress. Immersed in the high society of Paris, constantly mingling with noblewomen and actresses, he completely forgot about his wife and son. The mother and son's life was filled with hardship. Dumas’s mother barely managed to support them both through her sewing. When Dumas was seven years old, his father suddenly remembered his son and went to court to take custody of him away from his mother. From that moment, the seamstress lost the son she had raised alone and was left utterly destitute and alone.

Throughout his life, Dumas père never acknowledged this woman as his wife, which exposed Dumas fils to the harsh realities of the world from a young age. He harbored a complicated mix of feelings toward his father. Influenced by his father, he developed a passion for literary creation and worked just as diligently. In his heart, he held on to one thought: 1:35

he needed to prove himself to his father. After the publication of *The Lady of the Camellias*, Dumas fils became an important writer during the transition of French drama from Romanticism to Realism. But what is *The Lady of the Camellias* about? The heroine is a fallen woman, a courtesan named Marguerite, originally a beautiful girl from the countryside. She comes to Paris seeking a livelihood and eventually becomes a courtesan. She meets a young man named Armand, who loves her sincerely and awakens her desire for a life filled with love, away from her past. However, Armand's father disapproves of the relationship and forces Marguerite to leave the man she loves. Unaware of the truth, Armand feels hurt and humiliates Marguerite, who ultimately dies in poverty and illness. So, what was the real-life inspiration for this story? The story is based on Dumas fils's own experiences. In September 1844, Alexandre Dumas fils fell in love at first sight with Marie Duplessis, a famous courtesan in Paris. Marie came from a poor background; she ended up in Paris and was forced into prostitution. She valued Dumas fils's sincere love, but to make a living, Marie had to maintain relationships with wealthy men, which deeply hurt Dumas fils. In a fit of anger, he wrote her a letter breaking off their relationship and left for a trip abroad.

By the time Dumas fils returned to France in 1847, he learned that Marie, who was only twenty-three, had already passed away. When she was gravely ill, her former admirers abandoned her one by one, and only two people attended her funeral. Marie’s belongings were auctioned off to pay her debts, and the remaining money was given to her poor niece. Marie had one condition: 3:25

the heir must never come to Paris, the place that had destroyed and led to her downfall. Marie’s fate deeply moved Dumas fils, and filled with remorse and longing, he secluded himself in the countryside, refusing all visitors, and began to write. A year later, he completed *The Lady of the Camellias* at the age of just 24. Knowing the real-life inspiration behind the story, you will find the novel remarkably authentic. At the beginning of this novel, the author writes, "I beg the reader to believe in the truth of this story. All the characters, except for the heroine, are still alive today. Due to a unique opportunity, only I could record this story in full detail. Without my knowledge, it would have been impossible to write a compelling and complete story. Let me now explain how I came to know these details." This  author is not Dumas fils himself but a fictional character in the novel, an author to this tragic love story. And what kind of story did this author come to understand? On March 12, 1847, I as the author saw a large yellow advertisement on Rue La Fayette, announcing an auction of furniture and valuable antiques due to the owner's death. The next day, the author went to No. 9, Rue d'Antin, where many visitors were already inside the apartment. The owner was a woman supported by her lovers, and the visitors were there out of curiosity, gazing in wonder and even admiration at the apartment's furnishings, hoping to find traces of the socialite's life. This was a kind of voyeuristic curiosity. The furniture in the apartment was undoubtedly tasteful, with an abundance of exquisite gold and silverware and all sorts of treasures glittering in the light. As an outsider observing all this, he felt that every item seemed to depict another chapter in this poor woman's life as a courtesan. This reflected the common perception of society toward women in the demimonde. From the caretaker, we learned that the deceased was a woman named Mademoiselle Marguerite Gautier. Marguerite had left behind a significant debt, so her belongings were being auctioned to pay off her creditors, and any remaining money would be given to her relatives. The author suddenly recalled that he had once briefly met Marguerite. Marguerite often appeared on the Champs-Élysées, riding in a blue, four-wheeled carriage drawn by two chestnut horses. She always arrived there at the same time each day. She possessed a rare sense of nobility uncommon for someone of her background, a quality that made her exceptional beauty even more striking.

As he recalled this young woman, he felt a deep sorrow for her untimely death, believing he would never again see anyone as captivating as her. He remembered that every night Marguerite could be found at the theater or the dance hall, always with three things: 6:35

an opera glass, a bag of candies, and a bouquet of camellias. Because of this, she was given the nickname “The Lady of the Camellias.” Marguerite had been the mistress of several charming young men. Later, while recuperating at a sanatorium in Bagnères, she met a wealthy old duke. Marguerite bore a striking resemblance to the duke’s recently deceased daughter, so he offered to care for her as a father, on the condition that she would leave behind her scandalous past. This caused quite a stir in Paris at the time. Initially, Marguerite happily agreed, but she soon realized she was too accustomed to her libertine lifestyle—the balls, the drinking, the reckless living. She found it impossible to lead a quiet and mundane life. So, she confessed to the duke that she couldn’t keep her promise and did not wish to deceive him, and she left. Feeling betrayed, the duke refused to see her again, but eight days later, he returned, pleading for Marguerite to continue their relationship and promising not to restrict or reproach her again, and he resumed supporting her financially. At Marguerite's estate auction, the author purchased a book for one hundred francs, titled *Manon Lescaut*. It was a love story featuring a protagonist, Manon, who is portrayed as both lascivious and selfless, unfaithful yet tender—a complex character. Do you notice the similarity to Marguerite’s character? Inside the book, there was an inscription that read, “Manon to Marguerite, to her disgrace.” The signature below was Armand Duval. Remember this name—Armand, the most important person in The Lady of the Camellias' life. Two days later, the auction concluded. Two-thirds of the proceeds were taken by the creditors, while the remaining amount went to Marguerite’s relatives. And who were her relatives? A sister and a young niece. When the agent wrote to her sister, informing her she could inherit the fifty thousand francs left behind by Marguerite, the sister was astonished. She had not seen her sister in six or seven years and knew nothing of her situation. This shows that Marguerite lived a very lonely life, having turned herself into a secret. Before becoming a well-known courtesan in Paris, Marguerite was a farm girl from the countryside. She grew up in a poor family, frequently subjected to her mother's beatings and scoldings, and endured a very difficult childhood. When Marguerite was twelve, both of her parents passed away, leaving her to fend for herself and find a way to survive in Paris. But what could a twelve-year-old girl do on her own? When the young Marguerite arrived in Paris, she was quickly captivated by the city’s dazzling, hedonistic lifestyle. With her extraordinary beauty, she soon found herself welcomed into the social circles of Parisian high society. She became the mistress of noblemen and began living a life of excess and luxury. As her fame grew, her annual expenses soared to a staggering one hundred thousand francs. Her greatest passions were buying clothes and jewelry and seeking pleasure and entertainment. Her nickname, "The Lady of the Camellias," is a beautiful name, but it also symbolizes her objectification; she ceased to be a person of flesh and blood and became simply "The Lady of the Camellias." A few days later, the author received a visitor named Armand Duval, the same gentleman who had signed his name in the book he had bought at the auction. He looked pale and seemed unwell. After breaking down in tears, he expressed his desire to reclaim the book the author had purchased. This is how we came to know Armand, although we did not stay in contact for a long time afterward. One day, while visiting Marguerite's grave to pay his respects, the author learned from the caretaker that a gentleman had instructed him to replace any wilted white camellias on the grave with fresh ones immediately. We also learned that Armand had sought permission from Marguerite's sister to move her remains to another location. Out of curiosity, the author asked the caretaker, "So, you truly believe that Armand has not forgotten Marguerite?" The caretaker replied, "I not only believe it, but I can guarantee it. His wish to move Marguerite's remains is just an excuse to see her again." Isn't that a shocking idea? A man wanting to open a grave just to see the woman who has already passed away with his own eyes. Armand said, "I have to see her. I have to witness it myself to believe it. I must see what God has turned my beloved into, hoping that the repulsive sight might replace the agony in my heart." When Armand returned, the author went to visit him and found him in a feverish state. The moment Armand saw him, he asked, "Did you see the grave?" the author nodded. Armand continued, "Was it well cared for?" Then tears streamed down his face. They agree to go together the next morning at ten to relocate the grave. When they arrived at the gravesite, the gardener had already moved all the flower pots aside, and two men were digging with picks. Armand watched intently. Suddenly, they struck a stone, and with a metallic clang, Armand recoiled as if struck by lightning. He was tense, and who wouldn't be in such a situation? When the coffin was fully exposed, the police commissioner instructed the gravediggers to "open it." They removed the shroud, gradually revealing Marguerite's face. It was a horrifying sight. The commissioner asked Armand, "Do you recognize her?" He replied softly, "Yes." "Then close the coffin and take it away," the commissioner ordered. The gravediggers followed his instructions. But Armand continued to stare at the open grave. His chest heaved, his eyes filled with blood, but he could not cry. Sometimes, in moments of the greatest sorrow, one cannot shed tears. Armand was ill for half a month, during which the author cared for him, and they became close friends. Slowly, we began to know the story of *The Lady of the Camellias*. Armand first saw Marguerite outside a store. A blue four-wheeled carriage pulled up, and a tall woman in white stepped out. She caused a stir as she entered the store, and after Marguerite left, Armand asked the shop clerk for her name. Just one glance in the crowd, and Armand could not forget Marguerite. Later, Armand went to the theater with a friend and, through an introduction, had a chance to meet Marguerite. At the time, Marguerite was eating candied fruit and completely ignored Armand, but he watched her all night. He followed her to a restaurant, saw her chatting with friends, and then followed her home. From that day on, he often hoped to encounter Marguerite in theaters and on the Champs-Élysées. But one day, he noticed Marguerite had suddenly disappeared. Someone said she had tuberculosis. After recovering, she went elsewhere, and it was two years before they met again. Armand barely recognized Marguerite; she had changed because she was suffering from tuberculosis, almost always feverish and in pain. Armand was extremely moved and eager to get to know Marguerite again. He asked one of her companions if she had a lover. Her companion, named Prudence, told him that a Count de N was pursuing her, giving her many jewels. He was wealthy, but Marguerite did not want to see him. Prudence added that Marguerite's life was not always happy because the old Duke who supported her often sent people to spy on her. They met again in Prudence's small parlor. Armand approached her, feeling very nervous, but Marguerite did not remember him. Marguerite said, "During my illness, there was a young man who inquired about my condition every day but never left his name. Was that you?" Armand replied, "Yes, it was me." Marguerite said, "Then you are not only generous but also kind-hearted." They officially got to know each other and had supper together. Marguerite occasionally spoke crudely and laughed loudly, but Armand only felt sadness. Why did he feel sad? Because her way of speaking, drinking, and seeking pleasure might have been signs of debauchery, bad habits, or high spirits in others, but for Marguerite, Armand saw it as a need to escape reality. Each time she drank champagne, she would cough, sometimes even coughing up blood and staining her napkin red.

Seeing this saddened Armand deeply. With tears in his eyes, he urged Marguerite, "For heaven's sake, take care of yourself. Don't keep living like this." How did Marguerite respond? Her personality comes through clearly here. She evidently sensed the young man's sincerity and kindness and spoke frankly: 15:51

"Even if I take care of myself, I will still die. What sustains me is the wild, carefree life I lead. Besides, taking care of oneself is for women of high society with families and friends, but for us? Once we can no longer satisfy our lovers' vanity and pleasure, they will abandon us." This was Marguerite's clear-headed realism. As a courtesan, Marguerite faced a destiny she had no choice but to accept, so she did not harbor illusions about others. However, Armand quickly expressed his loyalty, saying he would always take care of Marguerite and never leave her side until she was fully recovered.

The following conversation is quite interesting. Marguerite candidly asked, "So, have you fallen in love with me? Just say it outright; it would be easier that way." Armand replied, "Perhaps, but even if one day I wanted to declare my love, today would not be the day." Marguerite responded, "You had better never confess your love to me because such a confession could only lead to two outcomes. What are those two outcomes? Either I don’t accept, and you will resent me, or I do accept, and you will have a miserable mistress: 16:55

a sick, melancholic woman who coughs up blood and spends a hundred thousand francs a year. For an old, wealthy man like the Duke, it’s bearable, but for a young man like you, it would be troublesome. The proof is that all my young lovers have left me quickly." Do you see Marguerite's complexity? Can a courtesan also be sincere? Can a woman with a scandalous reputation also be faithful? These are profound conflicts, but they are very real. Hearing this, Armand was filled with emotion and, for a moment, could not find words to say. Ever since he first saw Marguerite, he had been unable to forget her. Even though they had not seen each other for two years, meeting her again today made her even more significant in his heart. Then Marguerite said directly, "Love me like a good friend; don't try to love me in any other way." But Armand replied, "I think I love you as deeply as one can, ever since I saw you step down from your carriage and enter the Sussman store three years ago." Marguerite was clearly a bit flustered. "So, what should I do to repay such great love?" she asked. Armand said, "You should love me just a little." As he spoke, his heart was pounding. Having experienced too many insincere relationships, Marguerite was moved by Armand's genuine sincerity. She said, "Alright, if you promise to be completely obedient, without questioning or monitoring me, maybe I will love you." This was Marguerite’s experience talking; she understood men. If they desire something and you give it to them, over time, instead of being satisfied, they often become even more demanding. At that moment, Armand understood Marguerite’s situation and immediately agreed to do everything she asked. Marguerite held Armand's hand, placed it on her chest, and said, "I am accepting your confession so quickly because I have less time to live than others. I am determined to seize the time I have left." Hearing this, Armand felt only heartbreak and pleaded, "Please don’t talk like that. I beg you." Marguerite laughed, "Even if I don't have long to live, I will still live longer than you will love me." At this point, you can see that Marguerite was still holding back, while Armand was falling deeply in love. The next time they met, they ate together and then fell asleep in each other's arms. At five in the morning, Marguerite woke Armand and told him that the old Duke came to visit every morning, so Armand had to leave. After returning home and getting some more sleep, Armand woke up to find a letter from Marguerite. It said, "Let's meet tonight at the Vaudeville Theatre. Come see me during the third intermission." Was this an invitation for a date? Armand was extremely excited and arrived at the theater early, only to see another man in Marguerite's box. At that moment, he was filled with jealousy. During the third intermission, the man in the box was sent to buy sweets, and Armand went to see Marguerite. Marguerite noticed his disappointment and said, "Don't give me that look just because you saw a man in my box." In their relationship, Marguerite never pretended to be pure or tried to meet Armand's expectations. She clearly did not believe that such a pure love could withstand the test of reality. This made Armand realize that having a mistress like Marguerite meant he had to tolerate her lifestyle; otherwise, it would only bring confusion to both of them. Prudence, Marguerite's companion, also reminded Armand that he could not afford Marguerite's expenses and that he was unable to support her. She warned him that his stubbornness could put Marguerite in an unfortunate situation. Prudence even hoped they would separate and not get emotionally involved. But love is possessive, and Armand could not leave Marguerite; he was deeply attracted to her, even though jealousy often clouded his judgment. Another incident occurred. A few days later, Armand received a letter from Marguerite saying, "Dear child, I am feeling unwell, and the doctor has advised me to rest, so I will go to bed early tonight and can't meet with you. But to make it up to you, I will wait for you tomorrow at noon. I love you." Armand believed Marguerite was deceiving him, so he quietly waited near her house and other places she frequented. That night, he saw a Count stay at Marguerite's house until four in the morning. Armand was furious. He felt completely manipulated by this woman and was in great pain. He decided to leave Paris to show his discontent and wrote a letter to Marguerite, explaining everything and hoping for an explanation from her. However, Marguerite showed no sign of guilt and did not reply to his letter. Days passed, and Armand's initial anger and sadness gradually turned into guilt and regret. He no longer wanted to leave Paris; that had only been a moment of anger. He then wrote an apologetic letter, hoping Marguerite would forgive his impulsiveness. The next evening, Marguerite visited Armand and had a sincere conversation with him. She said earnestly, "My friend, you must either love me less or understand me more. Your letter made me very sad. If I were free, I would not have entertained the Count two days ago. Even if I had, I would have come to ask for your forgiveness, just as you have just asked for mine. And in the future, I would have no lovers other than you." This was Marguerite's promise. But the condition was, "if I were free." From this, we see that Marguerite truly loved Armand, but she was not impulsive. What she wanted was understanding and acceptance of all of her—good and bad, past and present. For Armand, this was more difficult than love. So, the next part of the conversation is crucial. Marguerite said, "We no longer belong to ourselves; we are no longer people, but objects." Who is "we" in this context? She is referring to courtesans. "But then I met you—young, passionate, lively. I tried to make you the one person I could call upon amid my seemingly lively but truly lonely life, someone who could be a real lover." But who could be that lover? It comes with conditions. Marguerite said, "What I like about you is not the person you currently are but the one I hope you might become. But you reject that role, thinking it does not suit you. You are a mediocre lover; so, act like the others—pay me, and let us end this conversation." This confession left Marguerite utterly exhausted, but how bold and shocking it was—she revealed the complete truth. She was telling Armand, "I can't give myself to this love entirely, as you wish. I can't forget everyone else and pretend to live above the world. But what about the future? You haven’t given me any guarantees. We don’t know what will happen, and it’s beyond our power to change." This made Armand fully understand Marguerite. She was not playing with his feelings; this woman truly loved him and valued their relationship. But at the moment, neither of them had the ability to change their situation. Marguerite couldn’t escape her identity as a courtesan. The love she could offer Armand right now was all she had to give. If Armand could not accept the reality of their situation, including her relationships with others, then their love would only bring pain. Now it was Armand's turn to make a choice. He begged Marguerite for forgiveness, and they reconciled. Following this, Armand was indeed very devoted to Marguerite, which made her feel happiness she had never known. They spent a beautiful time together in a secluded, idyllic countryside, with most of their expenses still covered by the old Duke. However, there are no secrets in this world, and soon the Duke discovered that the two were living together in the countryside. He confronted Marguerite, demanding that she leave Armand, or else he would cut off all financial support. But by this time, Marguerite was unwilling to leave Armand. She told the Duke, "I won't leave Armand, and I won’t hide the fact that I live with him. Maybe I am being foolish, but I love him. What else can I do? Besides, he is now accustomed to loving me without restraint; even an hour apart would cause him great pain. I am already close to the end of my life and unwilling to bring misery upon myself by obeying an old man's wishes. Just seeing him makes me feel old. Let him keep his money—I don’t need it." Such words, of course, came with a price. The Duke soon cut off all his support for Marguerite, no longer giving her any money. It wasn't long before creditors began to knock on her door. Marguerite asked Prudence to help sell some of her belongings to settle her debts, keeping all of this from Armand, not wanting him to know. But Armand eventually found out. He went to Prudence and told her that he would find a way to pay off all of Marguerite's debts. He took some time to return to Paris, planning to mortgage the house his mother had left him, combined with the money he had won from gambling, to solve their immediate problems. He and Marguerite started planning their future together, even renting a small, quiet apartment in Paris, believing this would allow them to leave their past behind and face a bright future. But a week later, the young couple’s dreams began to shatter. Armand's father came to see him. He had learned that his son was keeping a mistress in Paris, and that because of this courtesan, Armand had completely forgotten about his career and ignored his father and sister’s care and concern. The scandal of Armand's lifestyle had already spread back to their hometown, and his father could not accept their relationship. He ordered Armand to leave Paris with him, but Armand refused, leaving his father deeply disappointed. When Armand returned home, he told Marguerite about the argument with his father. However, the pressure from the outside world only made the two of them reaffirm their feelings for each other and their commitment to their future together, strengthening their determination to stay together. Some time later, Armand's father invited him to have lunch together. Armand noticed that his father's attitude had softened; he even said that if his son's mistress was Marguerite, it might not be such a bad thing. Armand was confused by this sudden change of heart but felt relieved and happy. He went home, eager to share the good news with Marguerite, but found that she was not there. The servant said she had dressed up and gone out. Armand felt a sense of foreboding. Marguerite did not return all day. That evening, it started raining heavily, and Armand went out in the storm to search for her. He looked in many places but found no trace of Marguerite. Finally, he arrived at Prudence's house, where the porter handed him a letter from Marguerite. In the letter, Marguerite confessed that she had fallen in love with someone else and had become another man's mistress. She declared that everything between her and Armand was over and asked him to forget her and return to his father and sister. Armand had no idea what had happened. Unable to bear this sudden blow, he ran to a nearby hotel and wept bitterly. He could not understand why Marguerite had suddenly abandoned their relationship or why she had returned to her former life. It caused him deep pain. Armand decided to leave Paris with his father and return to his hometown. But shortly after returning, he realized he could not forget Marguerite; he dreamed of her and repeatedly read her letters. A month later, Armand's longing to see Marguerite again became unbearable, so he returned to Paris. By chance, he saw Marguerite on the Champs-Élysées. She appeared to be very happy, dressed extravagantly, and had a new companion named Olympe by her side. Seeing this, Armand was deeply hurt and assumed Marguerite had abandoned him because she was addicted to a luxurious lifestyle. Feeling betrayed, he decided to take revenge. He seduced Marguerite's companion, Olympe, making her his mistress to spite Marguerite. Armand showered Olympe with carriages and jewelry, and he went back to gambling, doing many things he knew would hurt Marguerite. Armand's behavior was driven by the idea that intense love had turned into hatred. Faced with Armand's repeated provocations, Marguerite felt helpless but offered no further explanations. It was clear, however, that she was becoming increasingly distressed; her complexion grew paler. She stopped attending balls and plays, fearing encounters with Olympe and Armand together. Yet one day, Marguerite and Olympe did meet and got into a conflict. During their heated argument, Marguerite fainted and had to be carried away. Following this, under Olympe's influence, Armand wrote Marguerite a letter, warning her to respect the woman he loved, whether he was present or not. This was a blatant display of his affection for Olympe in front of Marguerite. The blow was too much for Marguerite; she fell seriously ill.

One day, Prudence visited Armand to tell him that Marguerite could no longer bear the emotional and physical suffering caused by his repeated attacks. She pleaded with him to let her go. Armand made a request: 31:45

he wanted Marguerite to come and see him in person so they could talk. That evening, the two former lovers finally met again. Marguerite was dressed in black, with a veil, her face as pale as marble. She told Armand, "You have caused me so much suffering, Armand. And what have I done to deserve this?" Marguerite then pleaded with Armand to have mercy and let her go. She told him she was still ill and would not recover. But Armand replied, "Do you think I'm not suffering? That night, I first waited for you in the countryside and then went to Paris to find you. Your heartless departure almost drove me mad. How could you deceive me, Marguerite? I loved you so much then." Marguerite did not want to discuss the past. She tried to leave early, but Armand begged her to stay. He said, "Even though you treated me this way, I still love you. I want you to stay." Marguerite sharply resisted, "To drive me away tomorrow, right? No, that's impossible. Our fates have already parted. Don’t try to piece back the broken fragments. Perhaps you despise me now, but now you can only hate me." Armand shouted, "No, Marguerite." When he first saw Marguerite again, he had expected to feel the pleasure of revenge and to be overwhelmed by hatred, but it wasn't like that. At the moment he saw Marguerite, all his love and beautiful dreams revived. He admitted, "I will forget everything. We will be as happy as we once vowed to be." Marguerite responded in despair, "Am I not your slave, your dog? Do whatever you want with me. Possess me; I am yours." This statement sounds utterly devoid of self-respect. You may find it hard to understand, but this shows that Marguerite had given up—given up her pride, her dignity, and all her pretenses. And the reason a woman would abandon everything like this is because of love. It is cruel, for in any battle or conflict between two people, it is often the one who loves more who lets go first. In Marguerite's life, in this act of surrender, she truly lost all the support she had. The two spent an unusual night together. It was not strange but very real; Marguerite seemed to pour all the life she had left into her passionate kisses with Armand. At dawn, Armand said to Marguerite, "Let’s run away and leave Paris. Will you come with me?" But he was not expecting Marguerite to refuse, which left him feeling dejected. After Marguerite returned home, Armand learned she had gone to meet with a count. Once again, anger and jealousy overwhelmed Armand. He took out 500 francs, wrote a letter, and had it sent to Marguerite. The letter read, "You left in such a hurry this morning that I forgot to pay you. Here is your fee for the night." This was an act of humiliation. This behavior was a fatal blow to Marguerite because Armand treated her like a prostitute rather than a lover. Marguerite returned the money. Heartbroken, she left for England with her maid, deciding never to see Armand again. However, her tuberculosis soon worsened, forcing her to return to Paris for treatment. Sensing that she did not have much time left, she desperately wished to see Armand one last time. But by then, Armand had gone on a journey to the East with friends. A few months later, 23-year-old Marguerite passed away in Paris. It was only after her death that Armand read her diary and learned the whole truth. Why did Marguerite break up with Armand? As it turns out, when Armand's father came to Paris, angered by his son's defiance, he secretly met with Marguerite. Marguerite's diary recorded their entire conversation. Armand's father came to see Marguerite with an air of arrogance. He despised the courtesan who had stolen his son, changed him, and unsettled him. Marguerite, however, showed great restraint and asked for Armand's father's forgiveness. She explained her life story and expressed her sincere love for Armand. The father’s demeanor softened somewhat, but he still could not accept his son ruining his future for a courtesan. Marguerite presented evidence to prove she had never asked Armand for money; on the contrary, she had pawned many of her own belongings. She sincerely wanted to start a new life with Armand. At this point, we can see that Armand's father was also a man of good manners. He was moved by Marguerite's honesty. After a long pause, he said, "Madame..." He referred to Marguerite as "Madame" out of respect. "I will no longer use reproaches and threats but will make a plea, hoping that you might make one more sacrifice. This sacrifice is greater than what you have already made for my son." What was this sacrifice the father was asking for? Let’s read his plea. He said to Marguerite, "My child…" — you see, he is now speaking in the tone of a parent. "What I am about to say to you, do not take it in a bad way. You must understand that life sometimes makes cruel demands on the heart, and we must endure them. You are kind, and your soul has a generosity many women lack. They may despise you, but they cannot compare to you. However, you must consider that a man, besides having a mistress, also has a family; besides love, there is responsibility. After the age of passion comes the age of maturity, when one needs to stand in a respectable position to gain respect.""My son, Armand, does not have much wealth, but he plans to give you all of the inheritance his mother left him. This money could ensure that you never have to struggle again and could free you from your past. However, the world does not understand you. They will think you took this money for dishonorable reasons and tarnished our family name. You two will be bound by a chain you cannot break. What will you do then? Your youth will be wasted, and my son's future will be destroyed."

These were the heartfelt words of a father, and we can understand him. Armand's father told Marguerite that no one would care whether their love was true. The world would only see that Armand had no ability and had to rely on a courtesan selling her property to survive, and that Armand would have no bright future. He further explained that Armand, lacking money, had turned to gambling, but how could he guarantee he would always win? There could be an even more tragic outcome: 38:26

he could lose all his money, even his sister's dowry, leaving his father and sister destitute. Hearing all this, Marguerite realized that if things continued this way, their love might indeed ruin Armand’s future. She began to hesitate. Then the father continued, "And are you certain that the life you would leave behind for him will never attract you again? Are you certain you will never fall in love with someone else? As Armand's ambitions grow and replace his dreams of love, perhaps you will no longer be able to comfort him. Won’t that bring you pain?" He urged Marguerite to think about all this. This was a reminder that even if true love brought them together, who could guarantee that things would not change in the future?

The father said, "If you love Armand, you can only prove your love for him in one way—by sacrificing your love to secure his future. Nothing unfortunate has happened yet, but something worse than I can imagine may happen in the future." He presented a hypothetical scenario: 39:45

because Marguerite was so beautiful, she attracted others and was attracted to others. Armand, jealous of the men who fell in love with her, might challenge one of them to a duel, where he could be killed. The father said to Marguerite, "Think about it—facing a father who holds you responsible for his son's life, how ashamed and devastated you would feel." Was the father wrong? No. His words were incredibly rational, and reason is powerful; it crushes everything in its path, and this is a harsh truth. But love is irrational, and Marguerite loved Armand more than anything else. This is what makes a true classic—it places human destiny in an insoluble conflict, which in turn creates a powerful tragedy. We see that there are no villains, yet everyone is suffering. Hearing all this, Marguerite cried silently. She had considered these issues before, but when these words came from the mouth of a father, she realized the gravity of the situation. Armand's father had awakened Marguerite's sense of purity; she wanted to earn this father's respect, so she decided to make a sacrifice for Armand. She said, "Very well, sir." Tears streaming down her face, Marguerite had her final conversation with the father. "Do you believe I love your son?" she asked. "I do," he replied. "It is a selfless love, isn't it?" "Yes," he confirmed. "Do you believe I have seen this love as my hope, my dream, and my comfort in life?" "I believe it completely," he answered. Marguerite was in great pain, but she was not weak. She gave up her hope, dreams, and comfort—she gave up her love. She endured immense suffering as she wrote the letter ending their relationship. From that day on, Marguerite lost all motivation for living. She began to indulge in pleasures, using alcohol to forget everything, believing she would not live long. She even stopped caring about her health. Later, she endured Armand's revenge, unaware of the truth, which caused her health to deteriorate rapidly. Before she died, Marguerite was still calling out Armand's name. Tears flowed from the corners of her eyes as she left this world in pain and longing. This was the life of "The Lady of the Camellias." After hearing this story, Armand and the author visited Marguerite's grave. He accompanied Armand back to his home and saw his dignified yet kind father. Their lives seemed calm, the happiness that his father had wanted. After returning to Paris, the author wrote down this story to commemorate Marguerite and her pure love. And thus, the novel ends. Some say that Marguerite loved camellias so much because she used their purity to cleanse herself. This woman longed to live as beautifully and elegantly as a camellia, but she could not change her fate. She was a fallen woman, and in the end, she gave everything for true love. In 1895, Alexandre Dumas fils passed away and was buried in Montmartre Cemetery in Paris, just 100 meters from the grave of the real-life Lady of the Camellias. Visitors who come to pay their respects to Dumas fils often think of the Lady of the Camellias again and again.