Edgar Balthazar, Madame Adelaide Bonfamille's conniving butler, ultimately meets a fitting end for his villainous deeds in The Aristocats. While his fate differs slightly between the animated film and its storybook adaptation, both outcomes ensure he faces consequences for his attempts to get rid of Duchess and her kittens.
Edgar's Villainous Plot and Downfall
Edgar's primary motivation was greed. As Madame Adelaide's butler, he overheard her will, which stated that her immense fortune would first go to her beloved cats, Duchess and her three kittens, and only then to him upon the cats' passing. Desperate to inherit the fortune sooner, Edgar devised a sinister plan to eliminate the felines.
His scheme involved:
- Kidnapping: He sedated Duchess and the kittens, then drove them far into the countryside, abandoning them.
- Repeated Attempts: After the cats, aided by alley cat Thomas O'Malley, began their journey back home, Edgar made multiple attempts to prevent their return, including setting traps and trying to recapture them.
- Final Confrontation: In the film's climax, Edgar corners the cats back at Madame Adelaide's mansion, attempting to box them up again to send them away permanently.
Edgar's Ultimate Fate
Edgar's schemes are ultimately foiled by the combined efforts of Thomas O'Malley, Duchess, the kittens, Roquefort the mouse, and a contingent of alley cats and country animals led by Scat Cat.
In the Film
In the classic 1970 Disney animated film, Edgar is overpowered during the final chaotic confrontation. The animals manage to trap him inside one of his own packing crates. Unbeknownst to him, this particular crate is then accidentally loaded onto a truck bound for Timbuktu, effectively shipping him far away from Paris and Madame Adelaide's fortune.
In the Storybook Adaptation
The storybook adaptation presents a slightly different, though equally punitive, outcome. Instead of being shipped off, Edgar is discovered by Madame Adelaide. Upon learning of his treacherous actions against Duchess and her kittens, Madame Adelaide fires him immediately and removes him entirely from her will. This ensures he loses both his position and any hope of inheriting her wealth.
Summary of Edgar's Fates
Below is a table summarizing the different fates Edgar meets:
| Aspect | The Aristocats Film | Storybook Adaptation |
|---|---|---|
| How He's Overcome | Overpowered by animals | Madame Adelaide discovers his plot |
| Final Consequence | Shipped to Timbuktu in a crate | Fired and written out of Madame Adelaide's will |
| Lost | Freedom, position, fortune | Position, fortune |
Regardless of the version, Edgar's actions lead to his complete downfall, ensuring the beloved felines and their newfound family live happily ever after with Madame Adelaide.
