"Perhaps the reason why Jean Valjean died in a wimpy way is so his life would stick with the readers more than his death would."
Now that's interesting, Lauren--I never thought of that. Well, if that's what Hugo was intending, it certainly worked with me! LOL. Or perhaps he's even indicting French society for Valjean's death--for having killed a man in the end by stigmatizing him his whole life.
"For several characters, their deaths are the most memorable things they did."
Very true.
"Another difference is that Jean had lived a full life, saving many people so he was ready to die and felt no need to fight it."
Well, yes and no. Valjean was about 60, I believe. Up until he found out about Cosette and Marius, he seemed to be in excellent physical health. Besides, it's not as if he accidentally got hit by a stray a bullet or a horse and carriage while crossing the street, something that couldn't have really been prevented. He just started going downhill rapidly right after Cosette's marriage, due in no small part to his own actions. He seemed to have a death wish, since he could no longer be the center of Cosette's universe and now viewed himself as a useless and unwanted outcast.
"Ce n'est rien de mourir, c'est affreux ne pas vivre."
Meaning that he would rather die than just keep existing the way he was toward the end, I suppose?
"In response to Marius criticism, I think Marius was intended to be a guy with some iffy qualities because Hugo wanted the readers to understand why Jean Valjean to dislike him while not entirely disliking him themselves."
That makes sense.
"Also, the constant criticism of Valjean's past theft increases the readers' sympathy for him while emphasizing that the laws at this time did not expect people to reform."
Yep, many of the laws back then were nuts. I suppose for the 19th century that might be understandable to some degree, but Valjean's sentence was just complete lunacy.
Now that's interesting, Lauren--I never thought of that. Well, if that's what Hugo was intending, it certainly worked with me! LOL. Or perhaps he's even indicting French society for Valjean's death--for having killed a man in the end by stigmatizing him his whole life.
"For several characters, their deaths are the most memorable things they did."
Very true.
"Another difference is that Jean had lived a full life, saving many people so he was ready to die and felt no need to fight it."
Well, yes and no. Valjean was about 60, I believe. Up until he found out about Cosette and Marius, he seemed to be in excellent physical health. Besides, it's not as if he accidentally got hit by a stray a bullet or a horse and carriage while crossing the street, something that couldn't have really been prevented. He just started going downhill rapidly right after Cosette's marriage, due in no small part to his own actions. He seemed to have a death wish, since he could no longer be the center of Cosette's universe and now viewed himself as a useless and unwanted outcast.
"Ce n'est rien de mourir, c'est affreux ne pas vivre."
Meaning that he would rather die than just keep existing the way he was toward the end, I suppose?
"In response to Marius criticism, I think Marius was intended to be a guy with some iffy qualities because Hugo wanted the readers to understand why Jean Valjean to dislike him while not entirely disliking him themselves."
That makes sense.
"Also, the constant criticism of Valjean's past theft increases the readers' sympathy for him while emphasizing that the laws at this time did not expect people to reform."
Yep, many of the laws back then were nuts. I suppose for the 19th century that might be understandable to some degree, but Valjean's sentence was just complete lunacy.
Anyway, thanks for your comments, Lauren.