We’re already at chapter four?! Wow! How time flies! Let’s go to it!
Home Sweet Home!
To begin the chapter, we get introduced to where Annabelle lives and what her home looks like. She has a modest apartment. Modest by taste, not size. It definitely reflects the prosperity of her family and their wealth. However, she isn’t the sort of person who, much like the upper class at that time, bought frivolous pieces of art to clutter their homes with.
Back then, owning a lot of objects that adorned your rooms was a way to show off your wealth. Annabelle doesn’t see this as necessary and would rather have a nicer, cleaner-looking home than anything else. Also, France was suffering economically during the war. They were even still trying to bounce back from the first world war. Therefore, Annabelle, having grown up during times of economic instability, was taught to be wise with spending and not waste any of it.
Pictures 📸
To make a transition into talking about Annabelle’s family life and her past, using pictures seemed the way to go. It transitions from the pictures she likes and the ones she shows off in her home, then to pictures that hide away and with them, a part of her innocence.
She knows her mission relies solely on her commitment to achieving her goals without losing sight of what it is. Annabelle believes that remaining in the past – her youth, her innocence – would be a detrimental and completely unrealistic fantasy. However, by failing to acknowledge her past, she loses a part of her and her connection to her father.
Introduce the Readers to Wilhelm Dietmar
This is perhaps the first time I’ve really talked about her father in the book. It seemed to be the right time to introduce some of her background and family. Now that the introduction of her world and what is happening currently is out of the way, it’s easier to focus on building her character up. That task begins with her family.
After a brief history of the family and their history with Actualités Dietmar, we get into a discussion between the two. We see the two points of view over Annabelle’s situation. She knows that even though she’s technically betraying her country, she’s still actually helping the Allied effort and doing good. However, her father doesn’t see it the same way. Wilhelm sees a woman betraying her country and working willingly for the Nazis. This is a conflict that comes up often in the book.
More About Why Annabelle Chose to Spy 🕵🏻♀️
Going back a chapter, it seems like Annabelle makes a split decision to become a spy for British Intelligence. It didn’t look like she hesitated at all. Now, the true, deeper reasons reveal themselves.
We come to find out that Annabelle chose to protect her employees and save the company.
As she said, her father taught her that her first duty is to her employees. They are what makes the business keep running. Annabelle alone could not do all of their jobs if they left. She also knew that if she had not agreed to publish for the Nazis willingly, they would have taken over her business anyways and who knows what would’ve happened to her employees. They could’ve been replaced and without a job. They could’ve been sent away in one of the round-ups to work in a camp of sorts. Who knows?
Annabelle didn’t want to risk it, but Wilhelm belives there could’ve been a third option.
Climax (of the chapter)
The argument between Annabelle and Wilhelm comes to a climax and an ultimatum is given.
Annabelle has to choose between her duty to her employees or her duty to her family.
She doesn’t really have a choice. As mentioned above, she’s got to keep the business afloat and she knows what needs to be done. She doesn’t want to. Annabelle wants to remain her father’s daughter and not break her ties with him. However, she doesn’t want to put his life in danger by telling him the secrets she hides.
Wilhelm remains firm in his opinion. He loves Annabelle and wants to comfort her in her distress, but, alas it is not enough for him to leave his convictions behind. He hates the Nazis and is ashamed of his daughter. Wilhelm cannot accept her into his home anymore.
The Door Closes on Annabelle’s Innocence
All of her life, she’s looked up to her father for what is right and what she should do. Now he’s pushed her away entirely.
She’s all alone.
… aaaaand on that happy note, we end the chapter! Hope it wasn’t too depressing. 😶
What do you think? Did Wilhelm make the right choice to shut his daughter out of his life? Should Annabelle have told him? Comment below your reactions!
Until next time!
L.A.