2/24 Les Miserables, Volume I, Books II and III (Volume II, Books II and III), SPOILERS ARE ALLOWED FOR THIS SECTION ONLY

[Zulfiya]

The break week is over, and we are back to our usual business. I hope this week helped those who are now playing catching up, and we will soon see them again.

[Zulfiya]

1. Jean Valjean is back, but he never returned as Jean Valjean. He returned as a convict, a savior (twice), a horned devil in the forest, and a pauper, and a rich man. Why does Hugo hide his true identity and reveal it only when we all know that all these people are still one man, Jean Valjean?

2. A man with many roles and many names, as they say, has been searching his true self. Do you think jean Valjean is still seeking his true self, his true identity?

3. Are the Thenardiers even more repulsive than we all expected? Are they redeemable in the literary sense?

4. For the first time, we actually witness how Cosette lives and acts. Is she the child of her mother or the child of her environment? Basically, this is the question of nature vs. nurture.

5. Why did Jean Vajean not show the letter from the deceased Fantine immediately? Has it something to do with Hugo's intention to tell us more about the Thenardiers or about Cosette?

6. In the final lines of book III, Cosette feels like she is walking next to God. Did Hugo ascribe Jean Valjean miraculous abilities? Does he act as if he is 'the de facto God' being a man of many names and many roles? Is he a man of supernatural abilities: physical strength, agility, resourcefulness, kindness, honesty, loyalty, spiritual strength, durability, patience (as shown in the Thenardiers' pub), intelligence?

I also find it intriguing that similar to the Christian tradition, Jean Valjean officially dies and then 'resurrect' himself in Montfermeil.

Personally, I felt 'cheated' when Hugo started telling us about the ship 'Orion' and I thought that it would be another of Hugo's long digressions, but surprisingly it was short and relevant. Good job, Hugo :-)

[Jess :)]

Valjean does seem to have miraculous abilities! As I read this section, I was reminded of Edmond Dantes from The Count of Monte Cristo. I think there are many similarities. Two escaped convicts who were educate in prison, have miraculous abilities, uncover hidden stores of wealth after escaping, etc.

[Zulfiya]

I had a similar feeling. There are, indeed, many similarities: long novels, somewhat far-fetched plots, the protagonists are former convicts, and both go through a certain personal 'bildung' (a German word for transformation or formation/ the process of growing up)

Thank you, E:), a very insightful observation!

[Kathy]

I hadn't thought of that comparison, but I agree that it fits. I hope Valjean isn't as bitter as Dantes though. He held on to so much hate.

[Linda]

Zulfiya, I like how you point out all the different people that Jean Valjean come back as before we are confirmed that they are all actually Jean Valjean. I noticed this a couple of times, but you point them all out nicely. I suppose Hugo does this as another way for the reader to see how people who meet Jean Valjean without knowing who he is will make up their mind to fit an unknown into a mold, and that mold is usually just one characteristic (whether they are right are wrong - was Jean Valjean actually a horned devil??). It seems that Jean Valjean can not be seen as having multiple characteristics. The first one people come across is the one they see him as forever. Except for the Thenardiers, who initially see him as a pauper, proceed to treat him as so, until they slowly realize that he is in fact rich. They only change their attitude towards him when they find out that they can benefit from his wealth. And so to answer your third question, yes, they are even more repulsive. Jean Valjean was the same person walking into their inn as when he walked out, yet he was treated as two entirely different people.

I believe Cosette is a product of her mother. Although she is brought up in a horrible environment and treated grossly unfair, she still abides by the rules of the house and the family who raises her. Yet upon meeting an unknown man in the dark of the night, she still has within her the trust to show another person, even though her trust to this point as gotten her nothing but a horrible life. The sections where we see Jean Valjean show kindness towards Cosette and we see Cosette in disbelief at such kindness towards herself were extremely moving. When Cosette was afraid to play with the new doll for fear of being reprimanded by Thenardieress what heartbreaking. I loved when she was handed the stack of brand new clothing the morning she left with Jean Valjean. She had not had new clothing for the previous 5 or 6 years of her life.

Zulfiya wrote: Personally, I felt 'cheated' when Hugo started telling us about the ship 'Orion' and I thought that it would be another of Hugo's long digressions, but surprisingly it was short and relevant. Good job, Hugo :-)

Ha ha! Funny. I thought I was in for another Waterloo too. :)

[Zulfiya]

Kathy wrote: "I hope Valjean isn't as bitter as Dantes though."

I do not see him being mean and revengeful. So I share your hope - Valjean is mostly driven by the desire to help and save rather charge and avenge

[Zulfiya]

Linda wrote: "believe Cosette is a product of her mother. Although she is brought up in a horrible environment and treated grossly unfair, she still abides by the rules of the house and the family who raises her. Yet upon meeting an unknown man in the dark of the night, she still has within her the trust to show another person, even though her trust to this point as gotten her nothing but a horrible life."

I wholeheartedly agree with you - she indeed is. Cosette trusts people easily and she is abiding as her mother was. I hope Valjean will become a fatherly figure for her, not a divine one as she sees him now. I want her to see him struggle and win; otherwise, she might believe he can accomplish so many things easily.

[Alana]

As for the letter, I think it has more to do with Cosette than it does the Thernardiers. It's a very Christlike moment (I know, I always hated it when my profs made people into "Jesus figures" in literature when I was in school, but in this case it's very apt). He is literally willing to pay any price necessary for Cosette. It's going to be easier to just pay money than to deal with them, for one thing; just showing the note would have led to all kinds of arguments. As it is, Thernardier runs after him to be even MORE greedy, and Valjean completely shuts him up by pointing out that he could have had Cosette "for free" in the first place. Thernardier still gets a crapload of money, but has to be civil about it. Cosette is purchased, but out of love and sacrifice, not because she is any kind of material benefit to Valjean. It was so moving to see the love and compassion he lavishes on her!

[Anne]

I was doing so well at keeping up, and now I've gotten behind. I'll have to hurry up and get through last week's and this week's sections.

[Anne]

I finally got around to reading this section, which was excellent. I am about a month behind, but hopefully I'll have time this weekend to read at least a couple more sections. Here are my thoughts on some of the discussion topics.

2. A man with many roles and many names, as they say, has been searching his true self. Do you think jean Valjean is still seeking his true self, his true identity?
I do think he is still finding himself. He has faced a lot of adversity in life, and he has had to start over more than once. Now that he is "dead", he will need to find a way to become part of the world again with a new name.

3. Are the Thenardiers even more repulsive than we all expected? Are they redeemable in the literary sense?
They are truly vile human beings. I loved Hugo's descriptions of them in this section. I don't see any redeeming qualities in either of them. I feel sad for their rejected son. Poor child. His future may not be much better than Cosette's life was in that abode.

4. For the first time, we actually witness how Cosette lives and acts. Is she the child of her mother or the child of her environment? Basically, this is the question of nature vs. nurture.
Like all people, I think she is both. Her natural temperament was shaped by genetics and the care of her mother when she was a baby, but the abuse and neglect she has experienced during much of her childhood have also shaped who she is now. Depending on how resilient she is and how her life with Valjean goes, she could have a good future. Considering how many pages are left of the book, I'll assume that it isn't all happiness from now on, though.

[Deana]

I really enjoyed this section and was very happy that Valjean went back to retrieve Cosette. It was very interesting to see all of the incarnations of Valjean as well. I was moved by his leaving the money in Cosette's shoe and the surprise on the other children's faces when she received the doll. I remember back to the beginning of the book when we were considering whether Valjean was being treated like a dog or perhaps worse than a dog... I think the same applies to the child here. after all she was playing under the table and given only the scraps.

[Zulfiya]

Anne wrote: "Considering how many pages are left of the book, I'll assume that it isn't all happiness from now on, though."

Volumes usually signal tragedies, happiness is confined to chapters or most commonly a chapter. That is the essence of human nature. We thrive on emotional drama, and it appeals to all of us.

[Zulfiya]

Deana wrote: "I was moved by his leaving the money in Cosette's shoe and the surprise on the other children's faces when she received the doll. I remember back to the beginning of the book when we were considering whether Valjean was being treated like a dog or perhaps worse than a dog... I think the same applies to the child here. after all she was playing under the table and given only the scraps. "

The scene with the money in a shoe was really moving, and it shows that Jean Valjean is not embittered and does not treat the fallen the way he was treated. And yes, thank you for reminding us about this interesting discussion when and how people can be treated like a dog. Cosette is obviously below the recognition level for the Thenardiers who are low middle class.