Book 17: Why does Gamache save her life?

He is Armand. He is with the Surete du Quebec. He couldn’t live with himself if he stepped aside. (Although the sacrificing some for the greater good is a recurrent theme in the series.)

Why? Partly, I suspect, there is an element of reflex response for a police officer; that is what one would instinctively do by virtue of one’s training and commitment to the public. But, I think the larger issue is that Gamache is a man of principle including the principle he uses to respond to Haniya Daoud’s accusation of cowardice. That principle that it is not the prerogative of any single individual to condemn another no matter one’s views of the person’s actions. Clearly when one looks at Armand’s previous actions as head of the Surete when confronting the drug cartels, he is capable and willing to make courageous and deeply considered decisions. I do think he struggled with his choices and feelings here. I think Daniel gave him permission later in the story to accept his desire to go against his principles in this case. I don’t know what I would have done but I suspect I would have been much more susceptible to Haniya’s accusation of cowardice.

Well, first of all, he’s a better person than I am, I would have ducked!

Armand pleaded with the university to cancel the lecture because Abigail’s agenda is so repulsive. The university refuses, citing academic freedom, and accuses Gamache of censorship and intellectual cowardice.
Abigail should be grateful to Armand for saving her life at the lecture, but she’s not. He tells her to stay put at Colette Roberge, her friend’s home while he looks for the conspirators but she decided to attend a New Year’s party at the Auberge in Three Pines.
Abigail doesn’t value people. She values society – “people” as a group. She believes the greater good requires sacrifices. Her belief is much like Charles Darwin’s Theory of Natural selection, “Only the strong survive.” She may believe she’s a humanist but she doesn’t value humans.
Armand is a real humanist. He sees all people as individuals, not people worthy or unworthy of living. He cares about each and every person. He believes that all life has meaning. And, that’s why he used his body to shield Abigail from a bullet.
We must recognize each life is worthy so we can defeat the ignorant views of those who believe in an agenda like Abigail’s. If it were me, I would have pushed Abigail out of the way and hit the ground. I may despise her but I don’t wish her dead. Once again, Louise explores another controversial and thought provoking topic and describes the madness of crowds perfectly.

Armand understands and accepts what is asked of him as an officer of the Surete. As many have said, he does it because he is who he is— a man of impeccable integrity and principle. He accepted the task of protecting this woman, and so he did. If he wasn’t capable of following through, I think he knows himself well enough to have admitted it and stepped away in the first place. He only questions himself later, as to whether it was the right move or not, because he clearly understood his duty at the time, which was to protect the lives of all the people in that auditorium, and leave his emotions and personal opinions out of it. He couldn’t, like Vincent Gilbert, not act; to allow an execution just because this person was advocating an idea he disagreed with. He never takes the easy way out. What would I do, in his place? I honestly don’t know; I hope I would have been able to recuse myself from the assignment, because I don’t think I could have stomached listening to that woman in the first place, let alone be responsible for protecting her.

Because he’s a cop and
because he’s Gamache. If I were a cop, I would have done the same thing. Since I’m not, I’m questioning a little but I think I still would have saved her. Morally, it’s the right thing to do. I’m thinking of an American political figure I really dislike to put this in perspective, and I know I’d save his life if it needed saving.

He was trained and took an oath to protect the public. Moreover, his own personal morality and years on the job led him to instinctively save her. Gamache doesn’t choose who lives or who dies, he does his best to save who he can.

Both his strong moral code and his Surete responsibility and training made him protect Abigail. When Haniya Daoud accuses him of being a coward, she argues that his action protected one person at the expense of many more who might die if she is allowed to continue her vile campaign. This seems to be the major theme of this book, and a very uncomfortable one. What actions can be taken against evil, especially when it’s masked in logic, however flawed?

After reading WOC, then rereading MOC, I think this action of Armand is a foreshadow to the conclusion of WOC. There is a line he will cross.