The book I've been reading is Les Miserables. I've always wanted to read this book, and what with the amazing film adaptation in theaters, now seems like an ideal time.
Something that seems eternally daunting, however, is the idea of writing a book review of Les Mis. It's bad enough that I've had to carry around this five pound novel for the past three months, feeling like a presumptuous jerk, but to be arrogant enough to think that I can properly review Hugo's 1200+ page masterpiece?
So instead of trying to be all deep and literary in my review, I'm simply going to tell you the tale. I'm sure several of you are interested in seeing the film or musical at some point, but just aren't very interested in dedicating yourself to a mammoth of a book. So below I present to you my summary of the events that occur in Part 1 of Les Mis--Fantine.
The book opens with the portrait of an honorable Bishop. Here is a man who enjoys solitude and bringing joy to the poor. He eats stale bread and thin soup and uses most of his salary to give to those less fortunate. Rather than taking fancy carriages about the town, he travels on donkey to the dangerous parts of the country to reach people to share the Gospel with.
We are then contrasted with a rugged character who enters town. A convict, Jean Valjean, has been set free after serving for more than thirty long years of hard labor. His original crime? Stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family (The original sentence of just a few years was repeatedly extended because Jean Valjean kept trying to escape. Can we blame him?) Although originally an honest man, the years have been hard on Jean Valjean and have likewise hardened his soul. Because of his papers, Jean Valjean is not accepted at any of the inns in the small village. He winds up on the Bishop's doorstep, starving and tired. The Bishop, of course, welcomes this guest like a man of honor, putting out the silver plates and candlesticks (his sole expensive possessions) for dinner.
As any reader with a vague concept of foreshadowing would guess, in the middle of the night Jean Valjean steals the Bishop's silver. He grabs several plates before dashing out the back door, but is quickly reprimanded by some officials who drag him back to the Bishop's house. The Bishop, instead of confirming the theft, cries, "Ah, there you are! ...But I gave you the candlesticks also, which are silver like the rest...why did you not take them along with your plates?" (89). Jean Valjean is still a free man, but before he leaves the Bishop whispers, "Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you," (90). These words haunt Jean for the rest of his life, and have quite the impact.
There is then, in the story, a brief moment, which at first glance does not seem altogether notable, but proves to be so. As Jean Valjean is standing on the side of the road the next day, he meets Petit Gervais, a little boy who accidentally drops a forty-sous piece. It rolls under Jean Valjean's foot. When the little boy demands for Jean Valjean to pick up his foot, Jean Valjean ignores him and doesn't understand what he's talking about. The little boy runs away crying. Jean Valjean has inadvertently committed another crime. Upon realizing this, the words of the Bishop haunt him and he falls to his knees, weeping and wondering at the kind of man he is to be.
The scene shifts.
Fantine enters the tale. She has a lover, Tholomyes, and three girlfriends (all who also have lovers). The eight of them live in youth, beauty, and pleasure. "These are true pleasures," Hugo writes. "These passages in the lives of happy couples are a profound appeal to life and nature, and call forth endearment and light from everything," (108). Something sets Fantine apart, though. She seems to love more deeply than the other girls, who mainly enjoy having lovers for the entertainment and gifts. So, when all of a sudden all of the boys decide to leave the country with not so much as a goodbye, Fantine is heartbroken. Not only that, she is pregnant.
Fantine is alone in the world and quite poor. She bears her child, Cosette, but struggles to care for the girl and make enough money for the both of them to live. She gathered word of a workhouse in M-- sur M-- that has decent wages and plenty of work, but cannot bring Cosette with her. She leaves her baby at an inn with the Thenardiers to watch until she returns for her.
Fantine lives in M-- sur M-- (a small town) and works at the workhouse of Monsieur Madeleine--a very generous man who is extraordinarily wealthy and kind to all. He allows anyone to come to his workhouse for employment, so long as they are wholesome, moral individuals. Word in the workhouse quickly spreads that Fantine has a daughter and is unmarried. The gossips report this to management, who kick Fantine out with the regards of Monsieur Madeleine (who knows nothing of the situation).
This, obviously, puts Fantine in a very difficult situation. She must continue to send money to the Thenardiers to support the raising of Cosette, but now has no income. Not knowing what to do, she starts to sell her possessions. However, the Thenardiers (being quite wicked and money hungry) start to make up lies about Cosette needing more money for clothing and medicine. They send Fantine letters that state things like, "If you don't send us 10 francs by the end of the month for medicine, Cosette will surely die." Fantine sells all that she has...which eventually includes her beautiful hair and teeth. Ugly, toothless, and poor, yet still needing funds for her daughter, Fantine gives all she has left and resorts to prostitution.
Walking the streets one night, Fantine is mocked by a gentleman. She attacks him, and is reprimanded by Javert, one of the officials of the area. Happening to be in the right place at the right time, Monsieur Madeleine (now the mayor of the city) intercedes on Fantine's behalf, stating that she was provoked. He takes her into his care, and, after hearing her story, promises to reunite Cosette to her. This doesn't sit well with Javert, who, having worked under the law for some time, doesn't like to be overstepped. Also, he couldn't help notice that Monsieur Madeleine looks familiar. He can't quite place it, though.
For you see, Monsieur Madeleine is none other than Jean Valjean! And Javert never forgets a convict's face.
A few days later, however, it is reported that the convict Jean Valjean has been arrested for stealing apples from a farmer's orchard. The man arrested, is of course, not Jaen Valjean, because Monsieur Madeleine is he. The man will be sentenced to several years of slavery. It will be a quick trial. Monsieur Madeleine is faced with a difficult choice: He is the master of hundreds of workers. Without him, the prosperity of the town would be ruined. Hundreds would be on the streets again. However, he made his prosperity by committing himself to God and goodness and honesty. Could he live with himself if he did not turn himself in?
This decision presents the importance of the Petit Jarvis/forty sous incident. If this theft had not occurred, it wouldn't matter if Jean Valjean turned himself in or not. But because Jean Valjean is a convict and had indeed committed another crime, turning himself in means a life of slavery.
Meanwhile, Fantine is dying in the care of some of Jean Valjean's nurses. Her only wish is to see her daughter.
Jean Valjean reveals his true identity.
Yet. He evades capture to go care for Fantine. Javert, who feels foolish for doubting his instincts, now wants to capture Jean Valjean more than ever. While Fantine dies in Jean Valjean's arms, Javert knocks down the door of Jean Valjean's home. Upon her death, Jean Valjean swears to care for her daughter. Javert arrests Jean Valjean.
Moments after arrest, he escapes.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the first 1/4 of Les Mis.
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