# Madness and Duality in 813

> Theme guide for 813 by Maurice Leblanc.

Characters like Dolores Kesselbach and her sister Isilda exhibit madness or split personalities, with Dolores leading a double life as a loving wife and a cold-blooded murderer, highlighting the thin boundary between sanity and insanity.

## Where it surfaces

- [Prince Sernine at Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/chapters/iv-prince-sernine-at-work): Gérard's suicidal despair contrasts with Sernine's exuberant control, and the chapter explores the duality of life and death, identity and oblivion.
- [Santé Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/chapters/ix-sant-palace): Lupin's dual identity as both the chief of police and the world's greatest thief highlights a schizophrenic duality, celebrated with ironic laughter by the public.
- [X: Lupin's Great Scheme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/chapters/x-lupin-s-great-scheme): Lupin experiences intense psychological turmoil, oscillating between feverish hope and despair, highlighting the duality of his composed exterior and inner chaos.
- [The Emperor's Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/chapters/xii-the-emperor-s-letters): Isilda's madness and her sudden lucidity before death highlight the theme of duality between reason and insanity.
- [The Man in Black](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/chapters/xiv-the-man-in-black): Malreich's eerie, motionless demeanor and Lupin's dual role as criminal and investigator.
- [Arsène Lupin’s Three Murders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/chapters/xvi-ars-ne-lupin-s-three-murders): Dolores is portrayed as a lucid madwoman, driven by homicidal instincts yet capable of cunning and logic, embodying a monstrous duality.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/themes/madness_and_duality
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/813_se/themes