Isabelle Laustin

Isabelle Laustin is the main protagonist of the 1979 shoujo anime Isabelle Of Paris (巴里のイザベル). 
She was voiced by , who also voiced Arale Norimaki from Dr. Slump, Minky Momo from Magical Girl Minky Momo, Kei (Akira) from Akira, Tina Armstrong from Dead or Alive and Karen Joshua from Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.
==Personality==
Isabelle is a young but insightful young lady, who cares about everyone around her. An innocent 15-year-old at the start of the series, as she witnessed more atrocities of the war, she swore to defend herself and her loved ones. Isabelle is kind to everyone around her, and has a strong sense of justice. She refused to out her sister's forbidden romance with Jules and is often disgusted at societal inequality towards the poor. 
Isabelle doesn't blindly follow what she's told and often questions everything. She would rather think for herself than do what customs dictate. Even though she's from a Bourgeoisie family, she doesn't look down on the poor like her peers do and treats them as if they were equals.
Isabelle is often clumsy and reckless, but has since learned to mature past those traits. She wishes she was graceful like her older sister, Geneviève. As a child, she was loud, playful and bratty, but has since grown to become a proper lady. Even then, she is hot-blooded and will fight to defend her honour and the weak.
Isabelle is noted to be bad at lying. Her crush on Victor is rather obvious to Jean. When Jean was shot and lay dying, Isabelle told him that she loved him to give him some happiness before death, but Jean saw through it and laughed at her.
==History==
Isabelle was born in 1855, in Versailles, France. She is the second daughter and the last child of the Laustins, a family of wealthy Parisian land owners. Isabelle has one older sister, Geneviève, and one older brother, Andréa. At a later age, the Laustins moved to Paris. 
Her father, Léon, a descendant of the Laustin family, looked down on the poor and encouraged his daughters to associate only with their fellow . Meanwhile, her mother, Marie, was a stay-at-home wife who often went with her husband's whims with little to no resistance.
As a young girl, Isabelle was often rambunctious, uncouth and wild. She liked to play near the fountains, climb trees, get her clothes dirty and play rough with the other neighbourhood children. Jeanne, the Laustin family's maid, was often exasperated by Isabelle's rebellious spirit. She would try to discipline the child to no avail.
Isabelle's best friend as a child was another boy named Jean Clément. Unlike the wild and playful Isabelle, Jean was a scared and meek little boy, often reduced to tears at the slightest provocation. This led Isabelle to dub him a "crybaby" and often bully him. Despite this, the two had a close friendship and Jean even caught a crush on Isabelle. He would ask her day and day again to marry him and be his girlfriend, but she would always refuse. At one point, she even slapped Jean for suggesting they should be married. This never deterred him, however, and he could continue to give Isabelle daily marriage proposals and pine for her heart.
Isabelle often felt inferior to Geneviève, who was graceful, elegant, skilled at playing piano and sought out by many other men due to her immense beauty. The Laustin parents often praised Geneviève and hailed her as their pride and joy. When she was of age, they arranged a marriage between her and Captain Victor Langlois of the French army. While Isabelle had a crush on Victor, she deliberately kept it secret because she knew that since he was already engaged, she had no chance with him. Isabelle was close with Andréa as children, but he soon enlisted in the French army and had to leave the Laustin family to serve his military duties.
When Isabelle was 15, as per the custom for French women, she made her social debut at a ball. She instantly caught the attention of the other ballgoers, and Victor, Geneviève's fiancee, asked her for a dance, jokingly asking if he was worthy enough to be her sister's betrothed. Isabelle also caught the attention of Jean, though she didn't remember him at first. She rejected him when he asked for a dance and chose to be with Victor instead.
Suddenly, the ball was interrupted by General Gambetta. He told them that he had urgent news - 's army had lost the and troops were advancing into the country, and Victor was to be deployed in action. Scared for their lives, the began making preparations to leave Paris. One by one, they began deserting the city en masse.
Unbeknownst to Isabelle, Geneviève was secretly unhappy in her betrothal to Victor. She had secretly had been in love with her piano teacher, Jules Francoeur, long before she was engaged to him. She wanted to become his lawfully wedded wife, but knew that because he was from a poor family, her parents would never let it happen. Thus, both Geneviève and Jules swore to secrecy about their romance, with a few exceptions such as Jules' friend, and the Laustin's carriage-driver, Gaston, who fully knew of their romance but supported it. On the day France fell to Prussia on the Battle of Sedan, Jules comforted Geneviève, and the two were caught in the act by Isabelle. While Isabelle was shocked, she didn't tell anyone what she saw.
Being , the Laustins had a spare family home in . They planned to escape the wrath of the Prussians by moving there and taking their belongings with them. Before they were to leave, Geneviève paid Jules a visit at the Parisian cafe he often frequented. Jules told Geneviève that it was for the greater good for her to go with her family and marry Victor, to which Geneviève responded by slapping him. She told him that he was the one who she wanted to be with and she didn't care about things such as wealth and class. Afterwards, a roused Geneviève told her parents the truth - that she was in love with Jules, and never loved Victor. As a result, she was screamed at by her parents, and Andréa slapped her to Isabelle's shocl. Victor challenged Jules to a duel, which Isabelle and Jean would observe in secret. During the duel (which was officiated by Andréa), Victor shot Jules on the shoulder, and refused to go much further. As Geneviève held Jules, Victor left the scene.
Moments before the Laustins left the city, Léon declared Geneviève disowned, while Marie couldn't stop crying. However, when Geneviève was out of sight, he gave Gaston an envelope full of cash and asked him to look after his daughter. After they left, the first thing Geneviève and Jules did was get married. 
Andréa had to leave the Laustins to join the army and fight off the oncoming wave of Prussians, so Isabelle was the only child joining them on the trek to Versailles. On the way, Isabelle's carriage was shot at by Prussians who intercepted that French refugees would try to flee, hoping to kill them. Luckily, Victor knew this was going to happen, and after warning Geneviève and Jules of what would happen, he rescued Isabelle from the Parisians. Victor instructed Jean, who happened to be with them, on how to use a rifle while leaving Isabelle in charge of riding the horses. Jean accurately shot the Prussian's horses, and Victor carried Isabelle to safety. 
Unbeknownst to the French, their country had already been sold out to the Prussians by . Thiers wanted to protect his own estates from their wraths and promised them Paris (and other parts of France) as long as they were left untouched. Thiers' fellow Bourgeoisie, General Gambetta, called his greed out and said that France was for the French. Thiers secretly sabotaged the , which resulted in the death of Andréa. The Laustins mourn the loss of their oldest child, and later, Léon proposes the idea of Isabelle marrying Jean. He tells her that since he is a fellow Bourgeoisie, marrying him would retain the family's honour. Isabelle is disgusted by this, and the next day, she challenges Jean to a swordfight. To her surprise, not only is Jean skilled at it, but he defeats her. Isabelle recalls that when she was a child, she would only marry a man who was stronger than her. However, she never tells Jean of this, nor does she tell Jean of her father's proposal. Jean exits the duel, blissfully unaware of the reason behind it. Isabelle, however, still holds affections for Victor.
Meanwhile, Jules, who was working with the resistance in Paris, knew of Thiers' plans and began plotting to thwart the inevitable takeover of Paris with his fellow commoners. Geneviève sent Gaston to deliver a letter to Isabelle about their activities, begging her to bring important documents their allies in London. Because Theirs was suspicious of dissidents in France, he had spies all over Paris, so the Parisians were unable to leave. Recruiting Jean to her aid, Isabelle cut off her hair, disguised herself as a boy, and headed towards London.
Theirs' accomplice, Panza, witnessed Isabelle leaving and told him what he saw. Screaming at him for his incompetence, Thiers ordered another one of his henchmen, Karlov, to smite the two children, Karlov attempted to kill them before their ship took off, but they outwitted him. He then followed them to London and so he could try to kill them there. However, Panza and his crooks also anticipated Isabelle and Jean's arrival in London, and were about to kill them until a masked vigilante, introducing himself as Count Red, came to the children's aid and attacked Panza's forces. Isabelle and Jean delivered the documents to the necessary individuals. Afterwards, they were confronted by Karlov, but Isabelle duelled with him, and Gaston came to her aid. Later, they were rescued by Victor. Back in France, Isabelle has become a wanted criminal for her anti-government actions, but since Victor is working with the resistance, he promises to shelter her. She is ordered to go to Versailles and join her family. Jean, once again pouting that Victor stole Isabelle's attention from him, joins her.
Victor is ordered to quell the threat of Count Red, who has moved his activities to Paris and started to ransack from the Bourgeoisie. Count Red challenges him at the Laustins' estate in Versailles, and Victor recognizes his fighting style. He realizes that Count Red's true identity - Andréa Laustin. It turns out that while Andréa and the other French soliders were gravely injured during the battle, they were discovered by some Romani who inhabited the area and tended to their wounds. One of the women, Irma, and another Romani woman looked after Andréa while he was injured. Andréa and Irma soon fell in love. Realizing that Thiers had set them up to fail, the disgruntled former French soldiers formed a new gang with Andréa as their leader. Irma joined the gang as their sole female combatant. They worked to oppose Thiers and free France from his grasp. Isabelle, despite being shocked moments earlier by the duel, is elated that her brother is alive, while Léon and Marie are also surprised.
Unfortunately, Thiers' men followed Count Red to the Laustins' household. They shoot at a chandelier, which falls on Marie's head, killing her. Léon blames Andréa for her death because Count Red's gang tied all the Laustin family members to their chairs (so they wouldn't get in the way of the duel). As Thiers' men burn down the Laustin's mansion, Isabelle begs her father to come with them, but he declares that he has no son and that he never wants to see them again. Léon willingly accepts death as he cradles his wife's body, not wanting to live without her, and the two perish into the flames.
After their death, the Laustins' reputation is essentially ruined, with the French public believing they were collaborators of Count Red. Only a few people attend their funeral, with some onlookers joining it to jeer at them. Isabelle is badly broken by what happened, especially after she learns that Victor has been arrested on suspicion of being part of the French resistance. Unable to bear seeing his best friend upset, Jean tells Isabelle he has a present for her, but she must meet him by midnight at the burned-down former Laustin mansion.
Jean uses his skill in dynamite and explosives to manufacture home-made weapons. Before he leaves for Victor's prison cell, his father asks to talk to him. His father tells him that now that the Laustins are disgraced, he doesn't want Jean to hang around Isabelle anymore. Jean lies and says that he won't, and then sets off with his plan.
Jean bypasses the prison grounds' gate and throws his explosives at the cell. He frees Victor, and they escape. Count Red's gang, who were also planning to break out Victor, remark that Jean beat them to it and praise his genius. 
When Isabelle meets Jean at midnight, he brings her Victor, making her very happy. However, Victor states that he must join Geneviève in Paris. He tells Isabelle of the oncoming siege Thiers has planned for Paris, so her and Jean go to defend it.
Geneviève is happy to see her sister, and they catch up about their lives in the Laustin's old Parisian home. They both blame themselves for the death of their parents. Geneviève, however, states that she does not regret anything. When Isabelle asks how she could be so strong despite everything, Geneviève says that it is because of Jules.
Geneviève tells Isabelle that she is pregnant with Jules' child. Isabelle asks her why she is fighting if she is pregnant, worried for the baby's sake, but Geneviève says that if she is killed in battle, then that is God's will. Isabelle is disturbed by Geneviève's nonchalant response. Victor trains the Parisians on how to use weapons, but they lack the exact proficiency needed to wield them. Jules remarks that since they are civilians, they cannot be expected to have the same level of skill as military soldiers.
Before the siege happens, Thiers' spies, who were observing Andréa's plan to defend Paris, reveal themselves. Confused as to how Andréa survived the Battle of Champigny, Panza holds Irma hostage and threatens to kill her if Andréa doesn't forfeit his plans. Irma knows that Andréa will give them up for her, so she commits suicide before he can. As she lies dying, she tells Andréa that she was happy they got to meet. In tears, Andréa stabs Panza in the chest with his longsword. He holds Irma, and tells Victor that she was a wonderful woman. He grieves for her, as do the rest of Count Red's gang.
That night, Jules tells the Parisian commoners of his dream, of a Paris governed by the people. Thiugh the people are unsure if it is possible, Jules rouses them, and they all fervently pledge allegiance to the idea of a free Paris. That night, Jules expresses his doubts of winning against the military to Geneviève, who tells him to have faith.
Sunday, May 21, 1871 arrives. The Parisians engage in a ball of sorts. Isabelle dances with Victor, and then also dances with Andréa, who has accepted that is lover has died and the only thing he can do from now onwards is to move on. Jean dances with Jeanne. They all have fun, except for Victor, who stares longingly at Geneviève. Even though she left him for Jules, his heart still pines for her.
The French soldiers enter and massacre the civilians in large numbers. Most Parisians die, and Isabelle is forced to retreat. As she's trying to get to safety with Victor, he is shot. Dumbstruck, Isabelle starts crying. Victor loses consciousness, and because of their strong family resemblance, he mistakes Isabelle for Geneviève. As he extends his hand to her, he asks if she is Geneviève. Isabelle takes it while proclaiming to be Geneviève, giving Victor some peaceful moments before his death as he whispers her name one last time before dying.
Geneviève turns the Laustin's Parisian home, which once housed her family, into an improvised hospital and treats the injured civilians' wounds. Isabelle enters it and tells Geneviève that Victor has died. Geneviève is shocked, but then calmly goes back to tending the wounded. Isabelle tells her that Victor lived for her and died for her, and asks why she is so flippant towards his death. Geneviève responds by saying that she lives for Jules, not Victor, comparing it to how their father lived for their home and their mother lived for her children. She tells Isabelle that one day she will understand, but a disgusted Isabelle calls her callous bolts out of the room. After she goes, Geneviève's eyes fill with tears and she whispers for Victor's forgiveness, softly muttering his name.
Meanwhile, Jules is arrested for being the leader of the Paris Commune. He is interrogated by a French government agent, who tells Jules he will let him off if he tells him where the barricades are built. Jules refuses, and dunks the wine he offered over his face. As a result, Jules is taken prisoner by the French government, and then executed by firing squad.
Andréa knows that the chances of them surviving are bleak so he orders Jean to take Isabelle to the Père Lachaise Cemetery. He says unlike the French soldiers, the Prussians do not shoot children. Jean and Isabelle escape, but Andréa is killed afterwards, thinking of Irma as he dies. Geneviève is killed when she confronts a French soldier, who shoots her. The death of Geneviève roused the Parisians to charge full-scale on the French military, but they were all slaughtered as if they were sheep. Gaston took the corpse of Geneviève to a bed and wept for her, accepting death as the falling debris took his life too. 
At the cemetery, many French people mourn the loss of their loved ones, but Isabelle and Jean reminiscence about how intense the past six months have been. Jean says that in the sixteen years of his life, more had happened in those months than his entirety of his life. They talk about Jules as well, and agree they gave it thier best. Jean asks Isabelle to leave the city behind and run away with him so that they can build a new life elsewhere, and she agrees. 
Just then, Jean is shot. Isabelle ducks, and then sees that the French army has arrived. She sees Jean's injury, and as he looks at her, he tells her he thinks that he jinxed it when he talked about running away. Isabelle refuses to believe it, but Jean accepts that it's over for him, and jokingly asks if Isabelle grew to like him. Isabelle tells him that she loves him, but Jean smiles and says that she's a bad liar, before passing away. Isabelle takes his gun and asks who shot him into the empty distance, getting no response. Refusing to leave him, she collapses, not even rising when it rains that night. She dreams of all the lives that were lost that day.
Hours pass and Isabelle is awoken by the French army, who question if they should shoot her. They hold back when they notice that she is a girl, but another insists that it is necessary to anyway. One soldier asks if the deceased boy next to her was her boyfriend.
Isabelle walks up to him, and without saying a word, slaps him. The rest of the soldiers are shocked, but the soldier she slapped tells them that it's all good and to leave her be. He tells her that the war is over and she can go and live wherever she likes. As Isabelle leaves, he asks for her name. She tells him that it is Isabelle of Paris.
Isabelle takes one final look at the city she used to call home. She then embarks to a new place, starting a new life elsewhere.
==Quotes==
==Trivia==
*Isabelle's sub-plot of being a girl that masquerades as a boy could likely have been inspired by the manga The Rose of Versailles. The main character of The Rose of Versailles, Lady Oscar, was a girl who was raised as a boy. In addition, both series are historical dramas set in that center around a significant event in French history.
*Isabelle's type is older men.Episode 3
==Gallery==
==References==
Category:Female
Category:Wealthy
Category:Freedom Fighters
Category:Sophisticated
Category:Supporters
Category:In Love
Category:Incompetent
Category:Anime Heroes
Category:Kids
Category:Chaotic Good