Les Miserables: Part 2 Book 6, 7, & 8

[Trisha]

Post comments here!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

It has been a while since I've read this one. A really nice read and you get a French Revolution history lesson too.

[Christine]

Wow, Hugo definitely had some thoughts to share about convents! Interesting, but it seemed to be one of those digressions I've heard about in relation to this book. He definitely gives you a sense of a place though.

I was so glad that Valjean and Cosette found a place of safety. Javert certainly seems to be a bit obsessed!

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

I thought that the chapters about JVJs sleepless night when he was thinking tortured thoughts and the inner debate about turning himself in or not turning himself in at the Assizes court in Arras so the man accused of being JVJ could be freed and his life spared. It was very powerfully written.

I wish I could listen to it again (eAudio), but with these extra-lengthy tomes, one must press onward :).

[Christine]

Andrea (Catsos Person) wrote: "I thought that the chapters about JVJs sleepless night when he was thinking tortured thoughts and the inner debate about turning himself in or not turning himself in at the Assizes court in Arras s..."

I agree Andrea, that section was very moving.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

I have not commented much. Without having a copy of the book its hard to follow where each tread is in relation to the book. Also the fact that these threads are divided up into such small sections adds to the difficulty. Based on Christine's post about the convent and Andrea's post about the trial, I think I am safe to post some of my thoughts about what Valjean faced in making his decision about the trial.

First I have always thought that this book is more about Christian beliefs as much as Hugo's thoughts and ideas about French society and history in the described time period. To me the book hits hard on the spiritual ideas of love, redemption, and sacrifice.

I believe that Valjean is facing a crisis of faith and a crisis of conscience. A man thought to be him is to be tried for his perceived crimes. Valjean’s crisis of conscience is, can he remain silent and allow this innocent man go to prison in his place. Valjean knows full well that it may mean a death sentence for this innocent man. If he does this he abandons his faith yet still must live with his conscience.

Valjean’s crisis of faith rests in how deeply does he believe in God. He can make one of only two possible choices. First he can save the innocent man from prison. This will mean that he spends the rest of his mortal life, in a hell made by man. Or second, he can condemn the innocent man to prison. The result of which, if he truly believes, is his immortal soul spending eternity in biblical hell. He agonizingly knows that the depth of his faith is being tested. In the end only one choice is open to him.

"If I speak, I am condemned.
If I stay silent, I am damned!”
― Victor Hugo, Les Misérables

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Bob, I think that you are right that this book could be about Christian beliefs.

Perhaps so much time was spent on Bishop Bienvenu at the very beginning, not just to show the kind of man and the profound faith who would give even more to a thief (JVJ) who is robbing him--but to establish a theme about the nature of the Christian belief system.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Hugo's comparison between the living conditions of incarcerated convicted felons and the nuns in Petit Picpus was very interesting that voluntary life in the convent of innocent women is even more harsh in than life in the galleys (prison) for murderers.

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Every time the narrator says "Le Petit Picpus," I giggle :).

[Andrea AKA Catsos Person]

Christine wrote: "I was so glad that Valjean and Cosette found a place of safety. Javert certainly seems to be a bit obsessed! "

I was also glad that JVJ found a place to hide from Javert.

Hugo sure knows how to make the reader sweat while sitting on the edge of the seat! I was very anxious for JVJ while he was cornered by Javert and his fellow officers.

The gardener's seeming vain efforts to get the new grave digger to "go a-drinking" so that JVJ could rise get out of the coffin caused a lot of anxiety as well. Who knew that grave diggers were so committed!

I agree that Javert seems obsessed. His hyper-focus on JVJ almost makes it seem as if crime is low in Paris and that he does not have enough crimes to investigate to keep him occupied. More like busy work.

[siriusedward]

The book is very educational I keep googling i g things related to French Revolution ,the French Monarchy and now the convent and the order of the Benedictines....
The digressions make this book really rich and brings the time period alive for me.I am really loving it.But took a really long break last month in between, as all the googling and reading of the book gets really intense.
The language is so beautiful...
Iam loving both the Hapgood and the W translation.Both are good.
This Book 6 with all its descriptions of the monastic life makes me nostalgic for The Name of the Rose.

[siriusedward]

The life of the nuns of the Order seems really harsh, as much as I have read.