Throughout The Scarlet Pimpernel, Orczy regularly juxtaposes England and France, with the ultimate goal of depicting England as the superior nation. As a result, the mood of the novel changes dramatically in relation to setting.
In England, the mood is generally upbeat. Descriptions of "The Fisherman’s Rest" establish it as a warm and inviting setting characterized by comradery and good humor. London, with its lavish balls and operas, has an atmosphere of excitement and luxury. There are moments of heightened tension, such as Marguerite’s high-stakes conversation with Chauvelin in her opera box in Chapter 10 and her deception of Sir Andrew at Lord Grenville's ball in Chapter 12, but the overall mood is positive.
A notable exception to this trend is the Blakeney estate in Richmond, where the mood is quite melancholy. The grandness of the household and the beauty of the surrounding countryside contrast sharply with the sadness and dissatisfaction Marguerite and Percy feel about the state of their relationship. This juxtaposition contributes to an atmosphere that is both mournful and romantic.
Scenes that take place in France, by contrast, are usually filled with tension, danger, and despair. In Chapter 25, when Marguerite is hiding in "The Chat Gris" and watching the encounter between Percy and Chauvelin, Orczy puts an emphasis on her feelings of fear and anxiety, which mirror the dirty and dilapidated nature of her surroundings. In the novel’s final chapters, which follow Marguerite’s attempts to warn her husband and culminate with the encounter at the Père Blanchard’s hut, Orczy predominantly focuses on Marguerite’s anguish and desperation, heightening the already tense mood.
