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Deep Analysis of Les Misérables: Beyond the Barricades (Pt.4-5: Pages 883-1173) (Patreon)

Published:
2021-12-15 11:23:10
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

Today we see what happens once the powder keg is lit.

We'll see how Victor Hugo ties all the narratives of this sprawling novel together.

We're discussing civil disobedience, riots vs insurrection, the crises of the soul endured by Marius, Javert, and Jean Valjean, and we go behind the barricades to join the young revolutionaries in the heat of the action.

And a hearty congratulations for making your way through this 1200+ page epic. 

I hope dearly that this is simply one of many readings of Les Misérables. It's certainly not the end of our discussion here, and I will be asking you to help me compose the next video with your response to this great book.

Video Timestamps:

  • 0:00 congratulations for making it
  • 1:30 “the book the reader holds in their hand”
  • 3:30 Jean Valjean vs Marius
  • 8:20 reform vs revolt 
  • 9:20 Thomas Jefferson & Martin Luther King Jr.
  • 12:00 Thoreau on civil disobedience
  • 13:30 Ghandi & Rosa Parks 
  • 16:00 1832 vs 1848
  • 17:00 James Baldwin on riots 
  • 22:00 the funeral of General Lamarque
  • 29:00 justice, insurrection, progress
  • 33:00 men who have nothing to live for
  • 34:30 down at the barricades 
  • 43:00 Jean Valjean's crisis of the soul
  • 47:50 Enjolras discoursing on fraternity 
  • 50:00 Javert and the revolutionaries
  • 51:00 Valjean aiming, hitting, and missing
  • 53:00 the vengeance of Jean Valjean
  • 56:00 Valjean, Marius, and Thénardier in the sewers 
  • 58:00 Javert's crisis of the soul
  • 1:05:00 Jean Valjean coming to terms with his past
  • 1:11:00 the end of Les Misérables 
  • 1:16:00 congratulations on finishing
  • 1:16:50 writing assignment for you now
  • 1:19:25 a personal note from me to you

Questions to Consider:

1) Does one have a moral duty to disobey unjust laws?

2) Do you believe that Victor Hugo crafted a balanced work with Les Misérables?

What to do now:

Please pen your impression of Les Misérables. 

What ideas resonated with you most at this stage in your life?

How would you persuade another reader to pick this novel up? 

We'll be honouring all of our reactions to Victor Hugo's grand work in a dedicated video, so please do give it some thought and share your reaction.

Happy reading, and congratulations on making it through Les Misérables!

Files

Previews only

Deep Analysis of Les Misérables: Beyond the Barricades (Pt.4-5: Pages 883-1173)

0:00 congratulations for making it 1:30 “the book the reader holds in their hand” 3:30 Jean Valjean vs Marius 8:20 reform vs revolt 9:20 Thomas Jefferson & Martin Luther King Jr. 12:00 Thoreau on civil disobedience 13:30 Ghandi & Rosa Parks 16:00 1832 vs 1848 17:00 James Baldwin on riots 22:00 the funeral of General Lamarque 29:00 justice, insurrection, progress 33:00 men who have nothing to live for 34:30 down at the barricades 43:00 Jean Valjean's crisis of the soul 47:50 Enjolras discoursing on fraternity 50:00 Javert and the revolutionaries 51:00 Valjean aiming, hitting, and missing 53:00 the vengeance of Jean Valjean 56:00 Valjean, Marius, and Thénardier in the sewers 58:00 Javert's crisis of the soul 1:05:00 Jean Valjean coming to terms with his past 1:11:00 the end of Les Misérables 1:16:00 congratulations on finishing 1:16:50 writing assignment for you now 1:19:25 a personal note from me to you

Comments

Jonathon Glover

I found some of the character arcs incredibly satisfying in the conclusion of this novel. In particular, Javert’s narrative ends in tragedy, filled with Aristotelean hamartia and catharsis. So powerful, as we can see that his rigid way of viewing the world is a coping mechanism, and when it is shattered, the overwhelming fear and self doubt is too much. “For several hours, Javert had ceased to be simple. He was troubled; that brain, so limpid in its blindness, had lost its transparency; that crystal was clouded… He beheld before him two paths, both equally straight, but he beheld two; and that terrified him; him, who had never in all his life known more than one straight line. And, the poignant anguish lay in this, that the two paths were contrary to each other. One of these straight lines excluded the other. Which of the two was the true one? His situation was indescribable.” I was also taken by Hugo’s ability to synthesise (as much as you can with a brick) and found the following extract particularly resonant and had me thinking of the often referenced Bloom’s anxiety of influence that Ben talks about. “Cicero was severe towards Caesar, and he was right. That severity is not diatribe. When Zoïlus insults Homer, when Maevius insults Virgil, when Visé insults Molière, when Pope insults Shakespeare, when Frederic insults Voltaire, it is an old law of envy and hatred which is being carried out; genius attracts insult, great men are always more or less barked at.” If being honest, I found the end of the novel to be rather frustrating, with the way that Marius and Caussette treated JVJ, and the fact that he didn’t set himself up a little more comfortably post giving away his fortune to these young brats. Although, I did find the final scene with him in bed both sentimental, and very touching. However, I loved the symbolism of JVJ entering the sewage system of Paris, and exiting a new man. The physical journey manifests in a spiritual one that allows JVJ to reconcile himself with his past. And finally, I really loved this quote, as it reminds me of what we do daily here with our rebellious little bookclub! “In thought there always exists a certain amount of internal rebellion”

Pati

Two weeks ago I've finished the novel. What a journey! If someone would have told me some years ago I would be reading Victor Hugo I wouldn't have believe it! And now I'm having mixed emotions, I'm glad I've read it but at the same time I'm sad that I finished it. I'm sure be re-reading it in the short time.

Jen Clair
>>156653447

I just finished this tonight. I started it the first day of Fall. I never thought I’d read this book but I am so glad I did. This truly was a page turner. Hugo plotted it masterfully. Everything came together and full circle in the end. And the end… oh my, I cried and sobbed . What a book this is! Hugo is a beautiful writer. There were so many times I stopped to say— that’s just lovely.

Craig Mckissick

I read this over 3 to 4 months and watched the musical with my wife upon finishing last night. It’s easy to criticise Hugo for the many quirks of this novel and it could be easily parodied, but to do so is to miss the point. This book contains a potent message. It contains many messages, which are there to draw upon for all walks of life, throughout different generations and points of history. The amount of research Hugo must have done to write this is staggering. Certain minor plot points kind of annoyed me but I believe they were supposed to. I think the characters are so extreme and unrealistic because like in science, things need to be extrapolated to the nth degree to prove the theory holds true and in doing so, this makes the principles of the theory more obvious and any flaws become apparent. If you take separate elements of the characters they could be true in real life individuals and in this way the characters of the novel are like a distillate of society and in turn this helps give the story it’s potency. Some lines an this book are quite simply some of the best lines I have ever read. Sometimes Hugo just likes to hit you with a ghost punch that will floor you. His analogies can be extremely beautiful and thought provoking. I think his use of the light and dark metaphor running throughout the book and his ability to explain using the spiritual and intangible is extremely relevant in todays hyper scientific world and reminds you there is a balance. Some things can’t be explained, just enjoyed. My way of getting someone to read the book would be to give it to someone I think needs it, maybe randomly on a train or something, knowing they probably won’t read it. I would say to them, ‘read this book, it could change your world’ and then I would stoically take pity on them knowing they probably won’t read it but know that if they do pick it or anyone picks it up, they are in for a life changing experience. I think you’ve got to ask, how would Jean Valjean give the book to someone?

Craig Mckissick
>>161859709

As a side note to anyone interested, watching the musical/movie after reading the book is a pretty powerful experience. Yes, it’s broad strokes, yes, it takes great liberties but the combined power of the book and the musical feels unique compared to most other works in that the musical element takes it far enough away from the book that you don’t have to compare them in a critical manner and can just enjoy the benefits of your deep reading. And this is coming from someone who’s generally not a fan of musicals, I’m more open to the idea now though, I would like to hear anyone else’s thoughts.

Peter F

I am taking my family to see “Les Misérables” this afternoon. It is a New York touring show coming to Minneapolis. I first saw the show in London, many moons ago. This morning I am reviewing Ben’s notes on” Les Misérables” along with my own. Ben your lectures add weight, depth, and deeper meaning to this work. Your passion here will enrich the performance for me today. Thank you for your lectures and Happy Holidays