Desire, Love, and Identity for Les Miserables

Desire, Identity, and Love

In pages 230 to 270 of Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, Marius desired Cossette, everyday waiting for her at the boulevard. As he began getting bored of only seeing her, he had to do something. He stalked her, to her house. There Marius was finally able to talk to her. After that, Marius discovered a hole in his wall. This hole led to his neighbor's apartment, allowing him to spy upon them. As he did this continually, he discovered that the Jondrette's, his neighbors, were planning on robbing and murdering Jean Valjean, Cossette's father. Quickly, ran Marius to the police. There he met Javert, the inspector. Javert gave Marius two pistols and instructions on what to do. This plot consisted of several themes: love, identity, and lesire.

First, Marius showed desire through how he desired, Cossette. Every day at the boulevard, Marius just sat there, simply watching Cossette. Gradually, as his desire increased, he couldn't just sit there; he had to go meet with her. Thus, he followed her to her house. His desire overpowered Marius.

Identity was also shown, mainly through the Jondrettes. Identity was a theme because the Jondrettes fooled Marius into paying for their rent and giving them nearly all his money. Marius, as well as the others that they tricked, believed that they were poor. Then after the Jondrettes realized that Marius was charitable, they kept taking advantage of him. Again the Jondrettes changed their identity, so that people would believe that they were poor. They may have fooled Jean Valjean this way as well. Marius then saved Jean Valjean, not knowing Valjean's true identity, an ex-convict. Many people used different identities to get what they want in Les Miserable.

Finally, love was shown in Marius's desire for Cossette, his stalking of her. Love proved Marius's want for Cossette. In one instance, Marius stalked Cossette to her house. Soon after, Marius loved her so much he couldn't bear only seeing her, he must meet and talk to her. Another point in the book was when Marius found the hole in the wall. His instantaneous love for Cossette caused him to go to the inspector. This hole was like a symbol, as in "The Play Within a Play" from Shakespeare's A Midsummer's Night Dream. Through this hole did two relationships blossom, that of Cossette and Marius, he seeing