July 20, 2009 2:56 PM
Les Miserables book study: pages 718-820
Fellow travelers - please drop me a comment to let me know where you are in Les Miz. I know at least 30 copies were purchased through Amazon, so I hope you all are reading at your own pace. For anyone struggling, don't forget my hints for making the book more readable. When you get to spots pertaining to French history - unless you happen to be interested in French history - feel free to skip to the drama.
And does this section outdo itself in drama! So tense I could barely put it down. And I have to confess, I was so angry at Marius for allowing his commitment to find Thenardier and repay him for saving his father's life (which Hugo showed us on pages 356-358 was exactly the opposite of Thenardier's intent) interfered with his doing the right thing and putting an end to the diabolical extortion/kidnapping/torture plot against Valjean.
Even though I've read it several times, my stomach was in knots.
Before we get to the major drama, however, we are introduced to Jondrette/Thenardier's daughter Eponine, of whom along with her sister - both of whom are forced by their father into a life of dishonesty - Hugo writes:
Marius understood. . . that probably these unfortunate things were also carrying on some of the secret trades of darkness, and that from all this the result was. . .two miserable beings who were neither children, nor girls, nor women, a species of impure yet innocent monsters produced by misery.Sad creatures without name, age or sex, to whom neither good nor evil were any longer possible, and for whom on leaving childhood, there is nothing more in this world, neither liberty, nor virtue, nor responsibility. Souls blooming yesterday, faded today, like those flowers that fall in the street and are spattered by the mud before a wheel crushes them. . .
Nothing could be sadder than to see her frolicking and, so to speak, fluttering about the room with the movements of a bird that is startled by the light or has a broken wing. You feel that under other conditions of education and of fate, the gay, free manner of this young girl might have been something sweet and charming. Never among animals does the creature born to be a dove change into an osprey. That is seen only among men. (pages 738-9)
Actually, this is not an introduction, but a re-introduction, which we realize when it is revealed that Jondrette is Thenardier. So these two are the Thenardier sisters who were spoiled and pampered by their terrible mother even as she forced Cosette into a life of servitude and squalor (remember Cosette eating under the table with the dogs?).
Also re-entering the story - or did he ever disappear as his presence looms constantly as a threat to Valjean - is Javert, who receives Marius's report of the intended crime and who Hugo describes as having
This man, calm and abrupt, was both alarming and reassuring. He inspired fear and confidence."
[spoiler alert] But as those who've read the story know, Valjean - now hunted by the just (Valjean) and unjust (Thenardier & Co) once again providentially escapes. The third section of the book (Marius) ends with the Thenardiers in jail and Gavroche (who turns out to be their son) now orphaned.
Next week: pages 821-940
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For all commentary, click here, scroll to bottom and read forward.
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Comments
I am ashamed to admit that I haven't started yet. The book is setting in my bookshelf, waiting to be picked up. I read a truly dreadful book over the past few days, and I can not wait to dive into some real literature.
I'm not reading your updates until I catch up, but I really appreciate you doing this!
Posted by: Lauren | July 20, 2009 6:18 PM
I am only on page 400, but I am persevering and loving the book. Thenk you for encouraging me to finally read this book , and for the insights you are giving.
Posted by: melissa | July 20, 2009 8:09 PM
I just started the section "Marius" on page 575. I am reading your comments as I finish sections. I wish I had ordered my own copy. I am using a library copy, and have to refrain from underlining certain passages!
Posted by: Karen | July 20, 2009 9:53 PM
So many times, Hugo does a huge introduction or starts building something and along the way you get an inkling of who it is or what is coming, but he really got me this time, and I loved it. I absolutely did not know the Jondrettes were the Thenardiers until Eponine comes into Marius's room on pg. 738, and then I immediately became so nervous because that put Marius only one wall away from this evil man whom he thinks he is indebted to! This entire section was so great. My heart was racing and I also could not put the book down.
On pg. 791 is when Thenardier reveals his identity to Valjean, and while I agree that Marius should still have done what was right, I was sympathetic to his situation. I really felt the confusion he must have been feeling to be so dedicated to Valjean and Cosette, and then suddenly have this name thrust into this strange and intense moment.
Valjean is a man of so few words, that I was really swept away by the power and strength of his short speech and actions to his attackers on pg. 810, "As far as imagining that you could make me speak, that you could make me write what I don't want to write, that you could make me say what I don't want to say-". What a way to dispel the power they thought they had over him. And although Marius did not do what he was supposed to, I thought it was clever to drop the note down into the room.
Posted by: Crystal | July 29, 2009 3:45 AM
