TPO 8 – task 1

In these set of material, The reading claims that the memoir belongs to Chevalier de Seingalt not accurate and the writer had distorted or invented many events in the memoir to make his life seem more exciting and glamorous than it really was. On the other hand, the professor describes how accurate this memoir is, and she refutes each of the author’s reasons.

First, the article states an inaccuracy in the memoir about the wealth Chevalier had had. In fact, the author casts doubts about it. The author says that it had been reported that Chevalier once had borrowed money from m merchant, and he wouldn’t do that if he was truly wealthy. However, the professor opposes this idea, she says that
Chevalier’s wealth might be in properties form and not in cash. Therefore, sometimes he might borrow some cash meanwhile his money arrives.

Second, the author asserts that another episode about the conversation between chevalier and Voltaire in the memoir reveals its inaccuracy. Because it was written many years after the conversation had hold. On the other hand, the professor refutes this point by saying that Chevalier used to write notes each night after the conversation, and it had been reported that he did referred to the notes during memoir’s writing.

Third, the article claims that the story of escaping from the prison through the ceiling is inaccurate. And it is most likely that he did escape through bribing the jail’s guard. Conversely, the professor disagrees with this point, he mentions that there were many other prisoners with more powerful friends who they couldn’t bribe so bribing seems unlikely. And repairing the jail’s ceiling after his escape is a great evidence about the accuracy of this story too.