Character Relationship Map: Danton

Characters

• Danton (played by Fritz Kortner) — protagonist

  Danton is an influential revolutionary leader who stirs public anger against royal privilege and advocates the King's death. He supports General Dumouriez and accepts responsibility for that choice, t...

• Robespierre (played by Gustaf Gründgens) — supporting

  Robespierre is Danton's former comrade and political opponent, an influential revolutionary leader who believes the Republic is continually threatened. He favors strict measures and argues that terror...

• General Dumouriez (played by Ferdinand Hart) — supporting

  General Dumouriez is a military leader whose abilities Danton supports despite Robespierre's distrust. Danton accepts responsibility for backing him. Later, Dumouriez negotiates with the enemy, an eve...

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Robespierre → General Dumouriez (Conflict Distrustful Political Opponent) — Robespierre's distrust of Dumouriez contrasts with Danton's support for the general; the account later notes Dumouriez's negotiations with the enemy.

  The plot states that Robespierre distrusts General Dumouriez, while Danton backs the general. It later says Dumouriez negotiates with the enemy.

• Danton → General Dumouriez (Alliance Political Supporter) — Danton supports Dumouriez despite Robespierre's distrust, making the general's military leadership a point of contention between Danton and Robespierre.

  Robespierre distrusts General Dumouriez, while Danton backs the general's abilities and accepts responsibility for his decision.

• Danton → Robespierre (Conflict Former Comrades Turned Political Opponents) — Their former revolutionary association gives way to an irreconcilable political conflict: Danton condemns Robespierre's terror and accuses him of pursuing dictatorship, while Robespierre maintains tha...

  The plot identifies them as influential revolutionary leaders and says Robespierre is Danton's former comrade-in-arms. Their disagreement over militar...

Story Analysis

The revolution's struggle for power culminates in an irreconcilable conflict between Danton's opposition to terror and Robespierre's defense of it.

Plot Progression

1. Revolutionary Power Takes Shape — Economic chaos and the Estates-General create an opening for the revolutionary bourgeoisie. After the Bastille is stormed, political authority shifts toward Paris and the Jacobin Club becomes a center...
2. The King's Authority Challenged — Danton stirs public anger against royal privilege, and the people march on Versailles. They confront the King and demand that he answer to the Convention; he is later tried, and the Jacobin Club votes...
3. The Republic Under Pressure — Military danger exposes a growing disagreement between Danton and Robespierre over how to defend the Republic. Their opposing positions on General Dumouriez and Robespierre's restrictions heighten Dan...
4. Negotiation and Irreconcilable Ideas — After Dumouriez negotiates with the enemy and Marat is murdered, Danton takes part in talks with the opposing army. He warns that occupation would spread revolutionary ideas, then seeks reconciliation...
5. The Decision Against Danton — Robespierre defends terror as necessary to save the Republic, while Danton condemns the killings and accuses him of pursuing dictatorship. As allies move against Danton, he refuses to flee or send any...