I was never one who enjoyed reading
classical novels but Les Miserables by Victor Hugo was an exception for me. Les
Miserables is a novel set in the time of the French revolution, a truly dark
time for France. Hugo will take you back in time and put you in the shoes of
different characters, different points of view. The novel starts off with the
story of Jean Valjean, and how he ended up as 24601 for stealing a loaf of
bread. Aside from Jean Valjean, Les Mis is also filled with stories of Fantine,
Cosette, Marius, Eponine, Javert and the Les Amis to name the major characters
of the novel.
These characters, though they are
many, all contribute to the picture that Hugo is trying to paint with his book.
Jean Valjean is the face of sacrifice in the story. He stole a loaf of bread
and ended up in jail for the son of his sister who was starving to death. He
also sacrificed a lot in his later life for the little girl Cosette. Fantine,
just like Valjean, also represented sacrifice. She, as a single mother, did
everything to provide for her daughter, Cosette. Cosette was the face of purity
in the novel. Through all the violence that happened in the story, she remained
untouched and untainted by all the bloodshed and unfortunate events that
happened around her. Marius represented uncertainty, which I am quite sure that
it is something not unusual in a time of uprising. Marius was torn between
Cosette and his friends in the Les Amis. Love against Revolution and
Friendship. Eponine showed selfless love which was directed towards Marius.
Even though Marius loved another, Eponine still loved him the same and was even
able to die for him. Javert was the face of justice. He was a man who built his
life based on law. The Les Amis, last but not the least, represented the
majority of the French population in the time of the revolution. They were
young revolutionaries who were idealists and had high hopes for the future of
their beloved land.
Les
Miserables, just like any other novel that is taken up in English classes, is
also filled with metaphors and symbolisms that will surely make the reader
think deeply and philosophically about the novel. This is one reason why I
loved the novel. It had a lot of room for thinking and analyzing. Another
reason why I am very fond of this novel, and quite possibly my favorite reason
why I am passionate with this particular novel, is that I am able to identify
myself with the characters especially Eponine. Eponine, throughout the novel,
had an amazing development. She started out as a spoiled brat, a daughter to
two thieves and a girl who made Cosette’s childhood miserable but when she
finally grew up, everything about her changed. She was changed by her love for
Marius. She was no longer the selfish, spoiled little brat but a brave,
selfless woman who was ready to do anything for the man she loved. I identify
with her in such a way that I also would like to think that I am a changed
person because of love.
Les
Miserables is both timeless and timely. It is a classic novel that voices out
the past while also shaping the present and future. It is a novel that will
always overcome the test of time because it is beautiful and remarkable, two
traits that renders a story immortal.
Review
written by: Ma. Angela Villanueva
Photo credit: http://pixgood.com/les-miserables-book-cover.html
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