Lee 1 Critical Reading Response Chris Lee Mrs.

Roche Honors English 10 Period 1 February 18 2013 Reading Response #3- Book 4

I.

Author/Introduction

Victor Hugo is a French poet and writer. He is one of the best known French writers. He was also a passionate supporter of republicanism and his works often touched upon the political and social problems of his day. His most famous books are Les Misrables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame. The book, Les Misrables, is about an ex-convict who is trying to redeem himself from his crimes and how he survives after the French Revolution. II. Vocabulary

Mairies- town halls Dragoons- heavily armed cavalrymen A widow- a rope III. Explication

In this book, Marius continues to obsess over Cosette but still does not even know her name yet and does not know where she lives after she moved out of the Inn in Book 3. Then Eponine out of her love for Marius tells him where Cosette is living and Marius goes after Cosette. Cosette meanwhile is extremely sheltered by Jean Valjean because Jean Valjean knows that Cosette is basically everything to him and without her, Jean Valjean literally has no one. Then the story transitions to Gavroche, and shows how he overhears Father Mabeuf worrying about his finances and steals and wallet and throws it over the wall to Father Mabeuf. Then one night, Marius has been creeping on Cosette and has been following her around for days and then one night Marius

Lee 2 goes up to Cosette, confesses his feelings for her and Cosette reciprocates his feelings. Then Jean Valjean, after a period of Marius and Cosettes romance, jean Valjean decides to move with Cosette to England. And within France, the political stability to fall apart and from there It continues to talk about Gavroche and Marius surviving the French revolution. And eventually, Eponine, about to die gives a letter to Marius talking about where Cosette and Jean Valjean are, when Marius receives this letter, he writes a letter bidding farewell to Cosette. Through situations, Jean Valjean ends up with the letter and is initially happy to be able to always have Cosette by his side but his sense of integrity comes and spurs him to go on and try and save Marius. IV. Literary Analysis Jean Valjeans happiness when he sees the letter for Cosette from Marius talking about Marius final goodbye shows how desperately Jean Valjean needs Cosette. Jean Valjean probably never experienced much romantic love as he was imprisoned for 19 years in a prison from a very young age and probably also eventually lost contact with his direct family. The mere thought of not having Cosette with him hurts him so much that he declared, Of all the tortures which he had undergone in that inquisition of destiny, this was the most painful. (Hugo 460). This quotes shows that Jean Valjean in his life care the most for Cosette as even the idea of Cosette being gone hurts him terribly. This shows different Jean Valjean is from other people as he lost most of his youth in prison and lost all chances at love except with Cosette and even that was damaged because of Cosettes wild desire to be with Marius. V. Language Analysis Hugo uses indirect characterization to show us aspects of Enjolas character. Enjolas declared, He killed, that is why I killed him. I therefore judged and condemned this man that

Lee 3 man to death. (Hugo 436). Through this use of indirect characterization, it depicts Enjolas as a man who believes that he is superior to everyone else around him at some level because he brings judgment of death down a man who did clearly deserve it. And he believes that since the assassin murdered someone it gives him the right to kill the assassin. And through the preceding speech, it seems like he killed the man to further his campaign in way to show that he murdered the man out of necessity and not hatred when it was not a necessity to kill the man. And how Enjolas desire is shown to be man who seems to be power-hungry and will stop at almost nothing to get what he wants. VI. Critique

For me, Enjolas represents the hubris of different people and how he thinks he can rule the world so much better than everyone else. He claimed, In the future no man shall slay his fellow, the earth shall be radiant, the human race shall love. (Hugo 437) It is reminiscent upon the idea to always be humble as Enjolas is clearly full of hubris and believes he is better than everyone around him. For me, it shows how we should all be humble and learn to not brag and leading in way which doesnt put yourself above other around you. And Enjolas behavior shows both aspects of hubris and the belief of superiority and does not allow him to clearly discern the needs and desires of his followers and friends around him.

Lee 4 Works Cited Page 1. Hugo, Victor, and Margaret Brantley. . New York: Pocket, 2005. Print.