Les Misérables
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What are your thoughts on the characterization of Eponine in the novel in comparison to in the musical?
Lauren
Oct 02, 2012 08:57AM
I had performed in my high school's production of the musical based on this novel before I read it (in French. I just want to point that out). I was surprised by how differently Boublil and Shoenberg portrayed Eponine. When I told some of my friends in another production about these differences, some were upset that Eponine was not originally as romanticized as they have come to know. Others thought that the examples from the text that I gave made her seem more lifelike. I agree with the latter and think it would have been brilliant if Boublil and Shoenberg kept her non-ideal characteristics when they wrote the musical. What are your thoughts?
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I had always been intrigued by Eponine in the musical, but felt there must have been more to the story than we were getting, which is one of the main things that prompted me to read the book. I think she is a much more richly textured character in the novel. I loved finding out that she was Thenardier's daughter, and her showdown with her dad and his thugs outside of Valjean's house was an amazing moment for her and a very powerfully written scene. I understand why, for the sake of time and clarity, Boublil and Schonberg simplified the character, but I much prefer Eponine in the novel to Eponine in the musical.
deleted member
Oct 11, 2012 08:30AM
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I just learned about and joined Goodreads yesterday. I love the musical, so I decided to read it. Very interesting to read and understand in that manner more about the characters.
Carol
Carol
I have not yet seen a musical version but knew the characterisation was very different. I do think that the character is more well rounded in the novel but musicals (and films) have such a short time frame to try and fit everything in so some things do have to go - in the novel I did think of Eponine very much as a secondary character so would prefer that she gets a bit short changed rather than one of the leads.
Though this may always change when I get the opportunity to see a musical version!
Though this may always change when I get the opportunity to see a musical version!
deleted user
I agree Carina. I have often found the, for example, movies, different from the books. I usually enjoy the book more.
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