Damiens, Robert-François
Summary
Robert-François Damiens is a French domestic servant who stands out as one of the few individuals to perceive Charles not as a soulless executioner, but as a human being. He holds a firm conviction that all things must be earned, yet he makes an exception by allowing Charles to care for his son after the boy is diagnosed with scurvy. Damiens pledges to repay Charles using the proceeds from selling his farming equipment and departs for his former home by horse, accompanied by Charles. However, this journey proves futile; he discovers that his home has been demolished and encounters a woman wearing his wife Flora’s stolen dress. Later, he and Charles observe Versailles through its gates, reflecting on the factors that render him so insignificant in comparison to the royalty. Through their shared experiences, Damiens helps Charles realize that he is not alone in his suffering, acknowledging that millions of others endure pain just as profound as his own.
