Barbara and Susan Realize Their Trap
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
After the physician exits, Susan voices her distrust of him and her aversion to leeches, spurring Barbara, who also senses something amiss, to attempt an exit, only to discover they are locked in the consulting room.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Anxious and frustrated, but maintaining a composed exterior to reassure Susan and strategize their next move.
Barbara, sensing the Physician’s suspicion from the outset, takes charge of the situation. She attempts to leave the room with Susan but is thwarted by the locked door. Her determination to protect Susan and escape the trap is evident, though her frustration at their confinement is clear. She remains composed but alert, assessing their options for escape.
- • To escape the consulting room and avoid capture by the regime
- • To protect Susan from further harm or exploitation
- • The Physician is working against them, likely in league with Robespierre’s regime
- • Their only chance of survival lies in finding a way out before the Physician returns with soldiers
Calm and confident in his betrayal, knowing his actions will result in the capture of Barbara and Susan.
The Physician, though physically absent during this moment, is the architect of the trap. His deception—using the pretense of collecting leeches to lock the door—reveals his true allegiance to Robespierre’s regime. His actions confirm his role as a betrayer, exploiting medical authority to ensnare perceived enemies of the state. His absence is a deliberate tactic to ensure Barbara and Susan are trapped and vulnerable.
- • To ensure Barbara and Susan are confined and unable to escape
- • To report their presence to the authorities, aligning with Robespierre’s regime
- • Barbara and Susan are enemies of the state and must be captured
- • His loyalty to the regime outweighs any ethical concerns about betraying patients
Distressed and fearful, with a growing sense of helplessness as she realizes the extent of their predicament.
Susan, visibly distressed and physically weakened by her fever and blistered hands, voices her discomfort with the Physician’s proposed leech treatment. Her unease escalates as she realizes the door is locked, confirming their confinement. She clings to Barbara for reassurance, her fear palpable as she grapples with the reality of their trapped situation.
- • To escape the consulting room and avoid the leech treatment
- • To rely on Barbara for support and guidance in this dangerous situation
- • The Physician is deceiving them and cannot be trusted
- • Their safety is at immediate risk due to their confinement
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
The locked door is the physical manifestation of the Physician’s betrayal, serving as an inescapable barrier that confirms Barbara and Susan’s confinement. Its sudden discovery by Susan escalates their panic, symbolizing the regime’s oppressive control and the futility of their attempts to evade capture. The door’s locked status forces them to confront the reality of their vulnerability in a hostile environment.
The Physician’s mention of leeches as a medical treatment serves as a false pretense to exit the room and lock the door, trapping Barbara and Susan. The leeches symbolize the regime’s twisted use of medical authority as a tool of control, reinforcing the theme of deception and manipulation. Susan’s visceral reaction to the idea of leeches underscores the unnatural and harmful nature of the regime’s practices, heightening the tension of the moment.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The consulting room, initially a place of potential medical aid, transforms into a claustrophobic trap as the Physician locks the door. Its cramped and dimly lit atmosphere amplifies the tension, reflecting the oppressive nature of Robespierre’s regime. The room’s confinement forces Barbara and Susan to confront their helplessness, while the locked door symbolizes the inescapable grip of the regime’s control. The consulting room’s shift from a space of healing to one of captivity underscores the regime’s corruption of even basic human needs.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
Robespierre’s Reign of Terror is the unseen but ever-present force behind the Physician’s betrayal. The regime’s paranoia and brutality are embodied in the Physician’s actions, as he uses his medical authority to trap Barbara and Susan. The locked door and the Physician’s deception are direct manifestations of the regime’s oppressive control, designed to eliminate perceived enemies of the state. This moment highlights the regime’s ability to infiltrate even personal spaces, turning trust into a liability and medical care into a weapon.
Narrative Connections
How this event relates to others in the story
"Barbara and Leon deciding to seek a physician for Susan leads to them actually finding one."
Barbara and Leon debate Susan’s medical risk"Barbara and Leon deciding to seek a physician for Susan leads to them actually finding one."
Leon’s Departure and Susan’s Distrust"Barbara and Leon deciding to seek a physician for Susan leads to them actually finding one."
Ian’s violent arrival fractures trust"Barbara is cautious of Leon. This is a thematic shadow. Later, she should feel the same way towards the Doctor. Leon promising to seek out a physician is directly followed by the physician eventually offering to treat Susan but requiring leeches, raising Barbara's suspicion, since leeches are used for blood-letting."
Barbara and Leon debate Susan’s medical risk"Barbara is cautious of Leon. This is a thematic shadow. Later, she should feel the same way towards the Doctor. Leon promising to seek out a physician is directly followed by the physician eventually offering to treat Susan but requiring leeches, raising Barbara's suspicion, since leeches are used for blood-letting."
Leon’s Departure and Susan’s Distrust"Barbara is cautious of Leon. This is a thematic shadow. Later, she should feel the same way towards the Doctor. Leon promising to seek out a physician is directly followed by the physician eventually offering to treat Susan but requiring leeches, raising Barbara's suspicion, since leeches are used for blood-letting."
Ian’s violent arrival fractures trust"The physician's suspicion of Susan and Barbara leads to his report to the Jailer, who then mobilizes soldiers to recapture them."
Jailer deploys soldiers to hunt escaped prisoners"Susan and Barbara's feeling that something is wrong leads to their attempt at exiting, but they are locked in."
Physician betrays Barbara and SusanThemes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"SUSAN: I don't like him, and I can't stand the thought of having leeches on me."
"BARBARA: I know, and I got the impression that he suspected us. Come on, let's go."
"SUSAN: It's locked!"