The Day of the Jackal

Over the course of The Day of the Jackal, Jacqueline has emerged as one of the most effective members of the OAS. Whereas the other members are mainly interested in violence and immediate revenge against de Gaulle, she is given a less desirable assignment. She is ordered to seduce Colonel Saint-Clair de Villauban and to pass along any information he might provide to her. Jacqueline hates Saint-Clair de Villauban, yet she is able to perform a role in the name of her chosen cause. Her vengeance for her dead lover is achieved by subjecting herself to the touch of a man she hates, rather than with a gun in her hand. Jacqueline’s story emphasizes how political resentment can lead to non-traditional forms of revenge, which contrast with the violent methods of the male OAS members but highlights their shared Political Resentment as a Catalyst for Revenge. However, that she is given such a different assignment speaks to the sexism that exists in the ranks of the OAS. Jacqueline is more effective in her mission than any of her fellow OAS members, which speaks to their failures. This effectiveness demonstrates the broader theme of The Rise of Meticulous Men, who operate with cold precision—Jacqueline mirrors this even within the confines of gender expectations and limitations. Jacqueline’s success is a cautionary tale to the French state. With relative ease, she seduces a married minister and—in the space of just a few weeks—she is able to convince him to share top-secret information with her that almost leads to the assassination of Charles de Gaulle. If the OAS recruited more people like Jacqueline and fewer like Bastien-Thiry and considered adjusting their tactics to anything other than outright violence (such as the tactics used by the Jackal), then they might be more effective.

Throughout Part 2, the Jackal’s journey becomes increasingly more frantic. This shift reflects a subtle transformation in the Jackal’s character from a calm, methodical professional into a figure gripped by The Consequences of Hubris. At the beginning of Part 2, as Lebel is assigned to the case, the Jackal’s preparation for the assassination seems almost perfunctory. He visits experts in their respective fields and acts decisively. Aside from the issue with the forger, his progress continues unabated. Once he sets his plan in motion, his journey to France resembles a vacation more than an assassination. The luxury and ease with which the Jackal travels underscore the contrast between his apparent freedom and the political and social constraints weighing on other characters, especially those driven by resentment or rigid duty. Ahead of schedule, he drives from Italy to France, cruises through the French Riviera and stops when and where he pleases. The luxurious nature of the trip reaffirms his desire to go through with the assassination. When he hears news of Lebel’s progress, he is given the choice to turn around and hand the money back to the OAS. Swept up in the luxurious lifestyle, however, he cannot bring himself to give up the money. This indulgence indicates his own developing attachment to the wealth and power that the assassination would solidify for him, subtly hinting at The Consequences of Hubris affecting even the most careful of professionals. Not only does he continue, he leaves a large tip at the luxury hotel where he stopped. The very nature of the Jackal’s luxurious journey to Paris helps to affirm his desire to kill Charles de Gaulle, challenging the Jackal’s embodiment of The Rise of Meticulous Men by foreshadowing his fall.

The Jackal’s initial progress contrasts with the seemingly impossible task faced by Lebel. At the beginning of Part 2, he had little more than a vague idea of the Jackal’s purpose. He believed that he could stop the crime by establishing the Jackal’s identity. Again, the similarity of the men is demonstrated. The Jackal feels that his identity is his vulnerability, which is why he works so hard to disguise it. Not only is his true name never revealed, but he creates a series of false identities as levels of security to insulate him from the threat posed by the French authorities. This dual focus on creating and uncovering identities aligns with the idea of meticulousness, which contrasts with the more emotionally driven or impulsive actions of other characters in the narrative. Lebel’s progress is measured by the speed with which he is able to learn the Jackal’s fake identities. This creates a contrast between the leisurely progress of the Jackal and the desperate progress of Lebel. However, Lebel’s slow yet steady progress emphasizes the importance of a measured, methodical approach over impulsive action, reexamining The Rise of Meticulous Men and positioning Lebel, who, unlike the Jackal, remains undistracted, as the key embodiment of a new order of meticulous thinking. This contrast, however, eases as Lebel moves through identities. Alexander Duggan is exposed, as is the model and registration of the car. The records of the hotel where the Jackal stayed is found by Lebel, as is the dead body of his lover. Each piece of information slowly erodes the protective shield that the Jackal has built for himself. Soon, the leisurely drive along the French Riviera has turned into a frantic dash to Paris. The quickened pace and heightened stakes reflect the growing tension in both men’s narratives, as the once calculated and professional Jackal becomes increasingly reckless under pressure. The Jackal manages to stay ahead by a hair, but the speed with which he ditches identities that took so long to establish, as well as the ease with which he turns to murder, show how Lebel has affected his methodical, professional approach. The Jackal is rattled, even if Lebel is no closer to knowing his true name.