Bonaparte
Bonaparte is the historical figure in focus of this literary fiction. The novel portrays his character through others. The soldiers idolize him and are ready to go into fire for him. That is the case of young Henri who discovers his purpose in being Bonaparte's personal cook. Following the promise of a better life Bonaparte's followers are gladly joining him, but soon they discover that the battle, the conquest for that life doesn't have an end, even when the chances are stacked against him, even after his soldiers are dying in the cold of Russian winter. He talks of the enemy as a monster, but, as Henri and others soon discover, the enemy is compiled of regular people, just like himself, fighting to survive, which makes Henri question who the real monster is.
Death in battle
The irony of a glorious death is interestingly described through Henri in the novel. It seemed glorious to die in the battle when one is not in the battle. In the battle, where men are covered in blood running into the enemy's guns, death shrinks down to exactly what it was, only death.
Looking at the city of madmen out of a madhouse
At the end of the novel Henri is looking out of the window from his cell in the madhouse at the city of madmen where they are preparing for celebration of Christmas and New Year. It is needless to comment on the irony of this scene. Maybe Henri is right in his stance, because after all "This is the city of disguises".
