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19th Century France!
A turbulent time after
the Napoleonic Wars
and the setting for . . .
Les Misérablesby Victor Hugo
Hey, why does that title sound so familiar?
Victory Hugo’s epic story gained worldwide
popularity as a Broadway musical. In fact, Les Miserables (or Les Mis) is the third longest-running show in Broadway history. It has run continuously for 27 years and recently played its ten-thousandth performance in London.
This dramatic story about redemption and revolution has truly universal appeal.
What does Les Misérables mean?
“misérables” (Fr. noun)
(1) poor wretches
(2) scoundrels
or villains
What’s in a name?
Even the title of this book has symbolic significance. In Victor Hugo’s mind, the
double meaning of “Miserables” reflected social reality in 19th century France. There was often a thin line between desperate
poverty and the life of a criminal.
We will return to a discussion of such themes. Let’s get more background.
Les Miserables Introduction
This classic French epic was written and published by Victor Hugo in 1862. The novel paints a vivid picture of Paris after the French Revolution and the contro-versial rule of Napoleon Bonaparte. Hugo presents the city as a microcosm of the world. He explores the challenges faced at every level of society during this time, especially the injustices endured by the poor.
Victor Hugo – Author’s Purpose
In explaining his epic novel, Les Miserables, Victor Hugo famously said,
“I condemn slavery, I banish poverty, I teach ignorance, I treat disease, I lighten the night, and I hate hatred That is what I am, and that is why I have written Les Miserables.”
A Bit About Victor Hugo• Born Feb. 26 1802 (during
Napoleon Bonaparte’s empire)
• Major leader in the French Romantic movement of the 19th century
• Most famous for Les Miserables and his earlier Hunchback of Notre Dame
• He believed that art should show the grotesque as well as the beautiful
• Hugo was a passionate political advocate during his day.
Les Misérables—reception• In America, the civil war was going on at the release of the novel.
The book became a sensation, especially among Confederate soldiers, who read the novel voraciously, calling themselves “Lee’s Miserables.”
• The novel had many enemies, including those who thought that it encouraged people to rebel against government institutions.
• Critics also condemned Hugo for writing a book about poor people and making money on it; however, the book was bought in record numbers by the poor in unprecedented numbers. Workers often pooled their money to buy the book, which they then shared among themselves.
Politics in Les Miserables
Les Misérables is set in the time period between 1789 and 1848, and explains the era in which France’s political structures shifted multiple times. Throughout the struggle between those in power, Hugo makes the point that the plight of the poor improved very little.
Les Misérables Part I - Historical Background
Don’t worry if you have limited knowledge of French history, we will discuss the historical background as we read. Start by familiarizing yourself with four major events from this time period:
French Revolution
Reign of Terror
Rule of Napoleon Bonaparte
Restoration of the Monarch (Bourbons)
French Revolution
• The French Revolution (1789–1799) was a period of political and social upheaval and radical change in the history of France, during which the French government, previously an absolute monarchy with privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic Church, underwent radical change based on Enlightenment principles of citizenship and inalienable rights.
• These changes were accompanied by violent turmoil, which included the execution of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. Hugo supported these revolutionary ideals.
French Revolution Storming of the
Bastille
Marie Antoinette
Louis XVI
Reign of Terror• A period of violence that occurred fifty months
after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by rival political factions within the new French Republic.
• It was marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution." Estimates vary widely as to how many were killed, with numbers ranging from 20,000 to 40,000. Most “enemies” were royalty, aristocrats, or loyal bourgeois.
• The guillotine ("National Razor") became the symbol of a string of executions.
Napoleonic Era
Several short-lived governments follow the revolution, including the the Directory, which was intended as a represen-tative government. However, Napoleon Bonaparte overthrows appointed leaders through a coup d'état in 1800. (Hugo born 1802.)
Napoleonic Wars
• Most historians agree that the Napoleonic wars were a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution. They refer to the conflict between Napoleon’s French empire and various European alliances.
• French power conquered most of Europe but collapsed rapidly after the disastrous invasion of Russia in 1812. Napoleon goes into exile.
• Napoleon's empire ultimately suffered complete military defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.
(This is when Les Miserables begins!)
Napoleonic Wars
Second Restoration / Bourbon Dynasty
• From 1816 to 1830, the rule of France returned to the heir monarch – King Louis XVII and then Charles X. During this time, the French established a constitutional monarchy where the king governed alongside an elected parliament.
Revolution Continues• By 1830, the July Revolution occurred, pushing
Charles X from the throne and replacing him with Louis Philippe “the citizen king.”
• When Louis Philippe dissatisfied, the poor and working class staged a uprising in 1832 (referred to as the Liberals’ Rebellion or the Barricades in the novel).
• Revolts continue to disrupt politics in France for several more decades. The country struggles to establish a government that truly ensures everyone’s right to “liberty and equality.” Hugo’s writing focuses on the workers and individuals who made great sacrifices to reform the country and build a democracy.
Les Misérables: The Story
Hugo divided his story into five parts. He named each part after a major character.
The storyline of each major character develops separately but eventually intersects with the other characters.
Together, these characters represent the society of Paris in the early 1800s. Each character takes on a different social role or represents a social issue from this time period.
Meet the cast of characters . . . .
and the social issues they explore.
The Hero: Jean Valjean Protagonist, Jean Valjean, begins the story as an
impoverished ex-convict, newly released after serving nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. Through the course of the story, he defies the odds and rebuilds his life to become a respected man.
Social Issue: Poverty and the Poor
In the beginning of the novel, Jean Valjean represents the fate of many poor men in 19th century France. Despite endless revolts by the working class in that century, there was still a sharp divide between the rich and poor.
Jean Valjean’s character and actions were inspired by Hugo’s observations in the streets of Paris. Before starting the novel, Hugo witnessed a poor man being arrested for stealing a loaf of bread. As the man was arrested, a rich woman dressed in velvet and furs walked by. Hugo saw the poor man stare at the woman, but she was totally unaware of him. The author later wrote about the encounter, saying, “The moment he became aware of her existence, while she remained unaware of his, a catastrophe was inevitable.”
Social Issue: Criminals and Prisons
Jean Valjean’s character also offers a commentary on the prison system in 19th century France. Hugo saw that the French criminal justice system was corrupt and the prisons filled with poor men. At that time, 80-86% of the prisoners in French prisons were male and the majority were in prison for the crime of thievery.
Until 1748, imprisonment meant
being sentenced to be a galley slave in a ship where inmates were chained to benches to row. This sentence was often used in place of the death penalty since most prisoners died within a few years. In the book, Jean Valjean is held in a famous prison / galley in Toulon.
Based on Hugo’s own research, prisoners were frequently abused by guards, held in overcrowded cells, required to wear color-coded uniforms to indicate their crime, and were branded or tattooed with an identification number.
The Villain: Inspector Javert Inspector Javert represents the corrupt justice system of
France during this time period. In the story, he works as a prison guard and later as a police chief. Javert serves as opposition to Jean Valjean’s character at every turn. Yet, he is a complex man who cannot be viewed as just another “bad guy.”
Social Issue: Abuse of Power
Class warfare between the rich and the poor was rampant in 19th century France, and government leaders often took advantage of this situation. Many police chiefs gained their position through bribery while the public turned a blind-eye to their abuses.
At this time, the term "police" encompassed varying levels of authority and significance within society. There were the police responsible for the prevention of crime, punishment of criminals, and patrolling the city streets. There were specific police divisions designated to monitor prostitution in Paris. There was even a group of police who worked to arrest vagrant children.
The Damsel: Fantine Fantine represents the plight of women, especially poor
women, in 19th century France. Because of limited opportunities for work, women without husbands or well-off families often ended up on the streets. After being jilted by her fiance, Fantine struggles to survive. She works in factories and later on the street corner.
Social Issue: Prostitution
In the 19th century, two different categories of prostitutes could be identified. The first category, streetwalkers, were those lower-class women forced into prostitution due to poverty. This form of prostitution was illegal. The second category, courtesans, were prostitutes for upper-class men in society. Becoming a courtesan was actually an acceptable profession for many upper-class women who chose to remain unmarried. Many men in positions of power paid for the company of courtesans.
The Children: Cosette / Gavroche
Cosette and Gavroche are both young children affected by the poverty of this society. Cosette is Fantine’s illegitimate daughter and Gavroche is an orphan who roams the streets of Paris. He forms a family by “adopting” younger orphans. Both play pivotal roles in the story.
Social Issue: Children in Poverty
Children were in a particularly bad situation in 19th century cities. They were often abandoned or became wards of the state due to poverty. They were sometimes sold into child labor or prostitutsion to make money for the family. Often they ended up on the streets.
The upper class believed that children of the poor inherited their parents’ criminal tendencies, so they didn’t want to take them in when they were abandoned. The government set up a program in 1801 that would take abandoned children.
The Lover: Marius Readers don’t meet Marius Pontmercy until the second half of
the novel when he becomes Cosette’s lover. This character offers an important glimpse into the lives of the revolutionaries.
By the 1830s, France has returned to rule under a monarchy. However, many young students and thinkers refused to give up on the fight for individual rights and democracy. Marius is one of the revolutionaries involved in the Liberals’ Rebellion of 1832.
Les Misérables: Major Themes
Finally, and most importantly, be prepared to discuss these themes in relation to the story:
• Class Conflict and Revolution• Justice and Injustice
• Human Rights• Society’s Laws and God’s Laws
• Personal Change and Transformation• The Power of Love
