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Les Misérables
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Volume 3 - Marius
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VOLUME III, BOOKS 1-4 Me too, so glad to finally meet Marius, but confused about who Gavroche is. I'm learning to be patient. Hugo does manage to tie things together as he did in these books with Marius’s father’s military service at Waterloo. Remember those chapters from a zillion pages (locations) ago?
I’m loving Marius! I think he has depth and insight and I wonder how he will compare to our hero, Jean Valjean. In part I was taken with Marius and these chapters because we were no longer in the realm of religion and God which I’m not so tolerant of. But late in the book, in his rant, Marius says speaking about his new political views, ”he had but just acquired a faith; must he then reject it already?...He declared to himself that he would not doubt, and he began to doubt in spite of himself. To stand between two religions…..” Here too is another quote that speaks to the idea that religion, belief in God, is not the only instance in human nature that can be dogmatic and destructive. ”He was not much alarmed by the citadels erected against the human mind in every direction, by superstition, despotism and prejudice.”
These books had lots of imagery and descriptions that I love and made for easy ready, despite the multitude of references to Greek mythology and history that I don’t know. In describing the effects of the revolution he says, ”It was a flood tide complicated with a thousand ebb movements; the peculiarity of ebbs is to create intermixtures,”. Not only does the ebb and flow describe the intermixture, but it also recalls the ocean and my thoughts about the theme of immense and infinity that I seem to keep looking for. Other writing that I love is how well Hugo describes characters and their clothing. I got a real sense of his father even before looking at the illustration; someone else was wearing ”trousers of the hue of burnt sienna. His face was the same color as his trousers.” Isn’t that wonderful?
And I do love all the “boys” of the ABC gang. Aren’t they so different from the group that Fantine was hanging out with? Here, Hugo really understands people and describes them each beautifully and so detailed. I’m not sure I really wanted to hear the long rant given by Grantaire, but it adds to the texture of the book; I’m getting used to his volubility, though generally I might prefer a more concise writing style, I am learning. In part it was easier reading because I felt connected to these young people.
I researched (read: looked at briefly a few things that were of interest to me). The first was the references to Voltaire. Sadly, I don’t know much about him, though he apparently was an extremely prolific writer, including the famous, “Candide,” which I saw on Broadway as a teenager, a musical with music by Leonard Bernstein. I think he is characterized as a free thinker and liberal in his philosophy of freedom and choice (those sound like awfully 21st century words, don’t they?) And then I wondered about the Latin phrase used to describe Marius at the end of the chapter, ”Initium sapientiae” Wikiipedia tells me that the original quote is from Descarte ”Dubium initium sapientiae.” Doubt is the origin of wisdom.” Isn’t that great!
More words I love: scapegrace, fulgurating (the poetic meaning much better than the medical: a flash like that of lightning), dithyrambs, valetudinarian.
Can you explain, at location 11,260 “expecting pink.” What does that mean?
Mod
Gavroche is the third child of the Thenardiers. Hugo tells us so indirectly when Gavroche is introduced. I believe G goes to visit his parents, and they are clearly the Thenardiers...I think that is why I knew who he was right away.
I also love the ABC dudes. I didn't think to compare them to those awful contemporaries of Fantine (as you will see further down this post, I saw them in relation to a different group of blowhards in this volume). Gawd, I hated those blowhards. I guess you could make the argument that these guys also like to hear themselves talk...but it is SO different. I really sort of love them all, even Grantaire.
Marius – Book 2 – The Great Bourgeois
I found myself trying to like M. Gillenormand, but it just wasn’t quite possible, as he is so irritating. Good portrait of him, though.
Marius – Book 3 – The Grandfather and the Grandson
Looks like Hugo did have an uncle Louis Hugo who fought at Eylau. I read somewhere that Hugo wrote a poem about the event.
I liked Pontmercy Senior’s attitude: “I do not know whether I no longer understand French, or whether you no longer speak it; but the fact is that I do not understand.” Another turn of phrase I would like to cultivate. And then he has the balls to ask the local DA “Mr. Crown Attorney, am I permitted to wear my scar?” Ha. I wish he got more page time.
In this book I stopped trying to like Gramps because he is an ass. How mean to take Marius away from his father. And for a reason that strikes me as beyond petty.
My poor stomach is getting a beating…and it’s just Fantine and Cosette all over again, but with a different set of stupid circumstances. I hated hearing about Papa hiding behind the pillar so he could get a glimpse of little Marius every few months. Yuck. And when we are told that Gramps throws out all of Papas letters unread…well, I knew Papa would never get to see little Marius again. Just like Fantine never got to see Cosette again. Yuck again.
The Royalists are pretty unbearable in this chapter – a nice setup for what is coming down the pike. Just like Tholomyes and his disgusting pals were so annoying before Fantine’s life gets flushed down the toilet. So we are kind of prepared for what is about to go down.
And then Hugo drives it home with another deathbed request from another dying parent to see their child. Never gonna happen.
I was relieved that Marius learned the truth so soon about his father, but it was still heartbreaking to go through it. I was reading this part on the bus and trying not to cry. Not easy.
Truly, the "miserables"
Mod
This cracked me up:
“At the point of this drama which we have now reached, it will not perhaps be superfluous to throw a ray of light upon these youthful heads, before the reader beholds them plunging into the shadow of a tragic adventure.”
--Like, thanks for the warning, Hugo, but that part is superfluous. We pretty much know everyone is heading into the abyss any second, now. And it’s always more painful if we come to know and love them first, so have at it.
Here are some words I liked: rascality (rascal like), pinchbeck (cheap imitation)
And an interesting way of saying too much of a good thing: “Every good quality tends towards a defect”
I have finished Marius, or at least the Volume of Marius and liked it a lot. As Tasha has said, it is totally superfluous for Hugo to tell us that everyone is heading into the abyss. In fact, I had highlighted the word in this volume and just searched for it in the book as a whole, and its used 71 times. I believe there is message here. I liked the detail of the father son story and I continue to feel that Marius is a guy of depth and integrity. I did have to go back and remind myself of the Thenardier and Pontmercy meeting after the Battle of Waterloo. How gruesome was that? As Marius watches from his secret hiding place (this is another form of “Who’s the narrator?") the scene of JV’s snatching by Thenardier and his henchmen, and he is grappling with knowing what the right thing to do is, I liked reading about his internal conflict.
Once again, JV escapes. What a guy!
Here’s another theme that I think I found. I have stumbled upon the word “ingrate” more than once in the book. And found ”ingratitude” here in reference to Thenardier’s “reproach” directed against Pontmercy. I began thinking about the idea of gratitude and it’s opposite, ingratitude. How people express gratitude and thanks, what it says about someone to be able to show one’s appreciation, and I feel he is saying something about a person and humanity and society at large, when they can’t or don’t express thankfulness.
Somewhere we started a discussion about reading and having seen the movie and how our expectations of the book may be colored because we know certain endings or events. I want to say that this book is so different from the movie, which is skeletal, compared to everything that happens in the book, it is a completely different experience. Most often, I’m with you Tasha. Having read a book, I’d rather not see the movie. It never feels just right.
And thank you Tasha for translating ”Every good quality tends towards a defect.” I remember reading that, wasn’t exactly sure, but I think you’ve nailed it.
Words from this volume that caught my attention: vociferated. It just caught my fancy and almost sounds like what it means.
Mod
I kind of FF'd through a movie version of Les Mis the other night - it was On Demand. It starred Liam Neeson as JV (he was okay, I guess). And Geoffrey Rush as Javert!!! I love G. Rush. The movie was pretty bad, and so I mostly watched it in fast motion. Have you seen that movie? I get the feeling it would be pretty hard to make a good movie of it - same is true for Notre Dame, I think.
Marius – Book 5 – The Excellence of Misfortune
Hugo has a lot of perversity in him. He seems to love writing about things that make me extremely uncomfortable. Like all the thought and effort that Marius puts into finding M. Thenardier, because he wants to devote himself to helping him. (Back to Barbara's theme of gratitude v. ingratitude). Obviously this is going to happen soon, and it will no doubt be horrifying and painful. And probably lead to death and suffering for every person in the book I care about. And for what? Thenardier. The only character so far who Hugo has not put any effort into softening or humanizing. Obviously intentional, and just so perverse. I feel another stomach ache coming on.
I mean even old Gramps gets a big dose of sympathy: “…and he asked himself: ‘If the thing were to do over again, would I do it?’ His pride instantly answered ‘yes,’ but his aged head, which he shook in silence, replied sadly ‘no.’” Fuck balls, that made me sad. And I have absolutley no hope or expectation that Gramps and Grandson will ever make up…or ever see each other again, probably. *sigh*
Mabeuf is awesome. I really liked him and the description of him. All the plant stuff and the pear he produced....I should have realized that marked him for a fall. Damn you Victor Hugo, is anyone going to have any good luck at all?
I also really like the description of his housekeeper. “None of her dreams had ever proceeded as far as man. She had never been able to get further than her cat.” Omg, that was funny, and even though that sentiment has been written about a lot by people, never before has it seemed kind and loving, as well as making fun. That was nice. So when he goes on to say “Like him [Sultan, her cat], she had a mustache.” It is even funnier, and doesn’t seem mean – seems kind of sweet. I’ve never read anything before that was able to mock someone physically and still seem filled with affection. Nice.
Mabeuf talked to Marius about his father…”from the point of view of flowers.” What is not to love?
I finally tumbled: when his housekeeper is reading her romance out loud, and Mabeuf thinks she is reading the ‘Buddha and the Dragon’ and compliments her reading choice as the most beautiful legend ever, my note says-- "omg I love him - he gonna die"
I just don’t want Marius to get involved with the Thenardiers. Hugo is dragging this out and teasing us mercilessly. It is very suspenseful and upsetting. I am actually considering the possibility that maybe he will somehow avoid the realtaionship and things will be okay. Am I mad? Of course things won’t be okay. And of course Thenardier is going to ruin Marius. Hugo is the devil.
Mod
Uh oh. It is Cosette. The ‘insipid’ girl on the bench. So is Marius going to meet Cosette before he meets Thenardier? This book is surprising. Even though I know where everything is going (to hell), I am constantly surprised by how we get there. He’s going to fall in love with her. This won’t end well.
Hmm. So Marius doesn’t fall in love with her right away. Time passes and he doesn’t see her at all. Then she turns up again – all beautiful. Oh well. I guess it makes sense because Fantine was all beautiful, and she got those genes. But I’m still disappointed she doesn’t stay homely. I liked having a homely heroine. So now he’s going to fall in love with her. Cuz she’s all beautiful.
Oh crap. I am really starting to like Coufeyrac – “I have just met Marius’ new hat and new coat, with Marius inside them. He was going to pass an examination, no doubt. He looked utterly stupid.” I want him to be my friend. Ergo, he is going to die. I just know it. But I have absolutely no idea how…I don’t know where Hugo is going with all this!!
And I got so tangled up in Marius, that it took me a while to remember that Valjean and Cosette have to be careful! Valjean is still a wanted man. Damme! Of course they are going to skip out when they notice this nutty stalker like guy following them all the time. Part of me wants them to go away and never be heard from again. But I also want to see the love story…even though it will be the ruin of them all.
Marius – Book 7 – Patron Minette
Jesus Christ. This is very ominous. Made my skin crawl…especially since I have no idea how Hugo is going to tangle this gang of rascality with our boys. It is just awful.
I pictured them all looking something like this:
Mod
I was appalled by the description of the oldest Thenardier girl. Holy crap, how different is she from the last time we saw her? I really feel sorry for her, and yet I’m scared of her, and what part she will play the eventual downfall of every single character in this novel.
My heart sank when she read about Waterloo, and then started talking about her father. Dread dread dread.
I can’t believe Hugo got me to feel sorry for the Thenardiers. But his description of their circumstances was pretty brutal. And when he started talking about how hardship had only left the shadow of affection between them --“She called him: My dear, my little friend, my good man, etc., with her mouth while her heart was silent.” I kind of gave up. I do feel sorry for them, although I still hate them.
Oh lordy, and right in the midst of Thenardier’s awfulness – while he is planning to fleece the rich “gentleman,” we see Thenardier instructing his daughters to make the place look more pitiful and vile…and it is already so bleak, and he doesn’t fully realize how bad his situation is. Crapola, it is just like what happens today – when polled all the working poor people classify themselves as middles class (as do all the wealthy people, by the way), and they don’t really get how they are The Working Poor. I would probably do the same thing, if I hadn’t read about and been forced to think on it. Made me feel even sorrier for M. T…but I still dislike him.
OMG I am pretty sure I know where all this is going…but I NEVER would have guessed this is how we would get there!!! Thenardier finds Cosette for Marius!! Holy cow. And Marius learns who M. T is in the same scene. Jesus, Mary and Joseph! I was totally surprised by this turn of events. Love love love that!! I was so sure Thenardier was going to befriend and fleece Marius and then Marius would unknowingly lead him to Valjean and Cosette.
The only thing about this that bothered me was - I am having a hard time believing that Cosette, at least, would not recognize Mme. Thenardier – not even her voice? Ah well, I will accept this, as the rest of it is so great.
The thing I can’t fully forgive is Javert. I don’t believe in him at all, and I’m very disappointed (albeit not surprised) to see him back. He just seems like such a dumb character. Pointless and annoying (he gave a citizen off the street his guns????) Everything he is involved in comes across as stupid and false. I can only assume Hugo has something terrible and profound coming down the pike, it is the only explanation I can think of, so I am nervous about his reappearance.
Side note – in France 1830ish, it was desirable to have the ground floor apartment – it indicated wealth and status. I am wondering when that changed? Now the penthouse serves that purpose. I will try to find a good architecture history source.
How horrifying was that macabre street gang as they threatened Valjean in the garret? They were really scary, and kind of freaked me out. It was another instance of me repeating many times – but Volume 5 is called Jean Valjean, he can’t die right now.
“The judicial examination to which the ambush in the Gorbeau house eventually gave rise…” love that! It brings a pedestrian sense to the narration – always enjoyable for me. And the ensuing content lets us know Valjean is going to get away…which we suspect anyway, because of Vol. 5, but still, I appreciate the lessening of the gruesome tension.
Okay. Up to this point I have liked Valjean fine, with some bumps and twists early on when he was acting like a moron, and Hugo was mercilessly teasing us by withholding information. But ever since he got Cosette away from the Thenardiers, I’ve liked him. I have cared about what happens to him, and have been impressed with a lot of his cleverness – the escape with Cosette through the streets and roofs of Paris, the adventure of the false burial. He has been great.
But this is a new level. In this book he KICKS ASS! Like a super hero. He breaks out his super secret code to ensure Cosette’s safety, and gladly risks his life to do it. He burns himself with the white hot chisel to show the crazy crew he is the craziest of the bunch!! And then basically shouts, “Bring it on!” I am now in love with him. I hope he doesn’t have a miserable death in Volume 5, but I know he will, so why do I keep hoping? Anyway, he is cool.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad Valjean didn’t die…but what did the bad guys mean: they didn’t have time to cut his throat?? I’m pretty sure it doesn’t take that long, certainly not as long as their stupid discussion about it. I always hate that trope whenever it is employed to get out of a jamb. Or jam?
So what was going on with Javert and the magic tricks? How did he know the gun would misfire? Is he psychic? Telekinetic? I would totally jump on board the Javert train if it turned out he was a wizard.
I cheered when Valjean jumped out the window. Yay.
I loved the title of Chapter 12 – The Little One who was Crying in volume Two - as that is how I think of the Little Gavroche. Nice callback.
And I’m worried about the girls. The younger one doesn’t seem long for the world, but Eponine had spunk. I hope she manages…and that maybe we meet her again. We’ll probably meet them all again so we can watch them die.
About the Little Gavroche:
“He was one of those children most deserving of pity, among all, one of those who have father and mother, and who are orphans nevertheless.”
Ouch. Direct hit to the gut.
I’m so glad to meet Marius, but just a slight bit disappointed he wasn’t the Little Gavroche. That’s okay, though, I’m just glad we get to see what will become of the Thenardier children. Please, gods, let at least one of them overcome the horrible influence of their parents. I'm lookin' at you, Lil G.
And how awesome would it be if one of the girls managed to throw off the shroud of her upbringing? Fingers crossed.