19th Century Epic Romances discussion

Please discuss this part of the book here. Label all spoilers please!

What do you think of Monseigneur Bienvenu? Does he seem real to you?

What do you think of his view of the guillotine? "I didn't believe it could be so monstrous. It's wrong to be so absorbed in divine law as not to perceive human law. Death belongs to God alone. By what right do men touch that unknown thing?"

I feel that Hugo is very poetic especially at the end of CH 13, do you agree?

"He contemplated the grandeur, and the presence of God; the eternity of the future, that strange mystery; the eternity of the past, a stranger mystery: all the infinities hidden deep in every direction; and, without trying to comprehend the incomprehensible, he saw it. He did not study God; he was dazzled by Him. He reflected on the magnificent union of atoms, which give visible forms to Nature, revealing forces by recognizing them, creating individualities in unity, proportions in extension, the innumerable in the infinite, and through light producing beauty. These unions are forming and dissolving continually, from which come life and death.

He would sit on a wooden bench leaning against a decrepit trellis and look at the stars through the irregular outlines of his fruit trees. This quarter of an acre of ground, so sparingly planted, so cluttered with shed and ruins, was dear to him and satisfied him.

What more was needed by this old man, who divided the leisure hours of his life, where he had so little leisure, between gardening in the daytime and contemplation at night? Was this narrow enclosure with the sky for a back ground not space enough for him to adore God in his most beautiful, most sublime works? Indeed, is that not everything?

What more do you need? A little garden to walk in, and immensity to reflect on. At his feet something to cultivate and gather; above his head something to study and meditate on; a few flowers on earth and all the stars in heaven."

I love how you are all discussing the beauty of Monseigneur Bienvenu's solitary contemplation of the night sky.
I also loved the way Hugo makes reference to misery and the ocean.
Hugo suggests that the damned are tossed into sea only to be immersed in misery as limitless ocean.

*into the sea

*as the ocean

Monsieur Myriel is fascinating. I love when Hugo compares men whose sole purpose is the mining of gold while Myriel mines those who hearts yearn for liberation from universal misery!

Kelsey wrote: "Carol,
I am also finding Hugo to be very poetic... Even though I am not religious, I think there is a lot in terms of how you perceive and act in the world that can be learned from Monseigneur Bie..."

Me too, Carol. I've still got 20 pages to go in this part and I think that his coverage of the Bishop is a little overkill. I've got it already. . . he's still going on about it. Lol.

Well if you don't get the fact the this bishop is practically a saint after about the first 100 pages or so, then you've missed the boat. I do agree the story of the bishop is more than a bit overly detailed, but his representation to the main character (aka Jean Valjean) makes up for the lengthy and tedious details of what make the bishop tick..I love the bishop and what he represents. Had it not been for his pure unselfishness, Jean Valjean would not be the character he became throughout the whole story. Even though our bishop passes on fairly early in the book, his words and teachings to Valjean are an echo throughout the novel. I still thought of the bishop with each action Valjean took.

I loved reading about the Bishop because without him the story wouldn't have any center. In order to understand why he is so important we need to know everything about him and how he effects other characters he comes in contact with. Not to mention that he has some pretty hilarious lines that he says to his sister at times which are very enjoyable. The book is forming its foundations with Myriel about everything and honestly we all would be lost without it. That's what I have to say about it.

(and yes Hugo's prose is amazing throughout this section and the whole book in general, at least he makes sure you know what he's talking about if you zone out at some point because he repeats himself so often)

Jen wrote: "I still thought of the bishop with each action Valjean took."

I love the way you phrased this! It is so true. The Bishop is such a great character for inciting change in others, especially Valjean. It is awesome to see the way one character can have such a strong effect on another, and that character on another, and so on. The Bishop links every single character together in an incredible way. Well done, Hugo!

Ashley wrote: "I loved reading about the Bishop because without him the story wouldn't have any center. In order to understand why he is so important we need to know everything about him and how he effects other ..."

I really appreciate your comment Ashley. When I first read this book years and years ago, I barely tolerated the part about the Bishop. As I have grown-up he is the one I refer to the most from the story! He has become one of my very favorite characters.

April wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I loved reading about the Bishop because without him the story wouldn't have any center. In order to understand why he is so important we need to know everything about him and how he..."

I get what you mean. I kind of read the sparknotes for this book like a year or so ago so I have that background information in my mind so I know why stuff is there and how it is so important to the whole story. I have tried to read this book several times- project gutenburg and I checked it out from the library a while ago- but I purchased it since it was the only possible way I could read this novel.

The Bishop is probably one of my favorite characters as well. Fantine's story I love even though it is very tragic but hopefully there is another female that I connect with in this story further on.

I definitely agree with you Ashley! I was going to comment on the bishop's character and his backstory too, but I don't feel any need to anymore. I loved his conversation with the old rebel. To me, the picture of the poor man of God come from the bourgeois with his biases and the rebel man without bias except against the oppressors, teaching the priest with arguments he could understand and would have to concede in... It was an amazing section. Beautifully written, too!

I just finished this first section of the book last night. (Only about 6 months behind) I would have never guessed beforehand that there would be 71 pages devoted to the Bishop without a mention of any of the main characters of the novel so far. That said I think writing stands for itself and is very entertaining. Hugo did a great job at creating an extended character sketch of a man who is extremely selfless and pious, while still in full possession of many flaws and by no means saintly (which would have rendered him flat and unbelievable. I agree that his meeting with the dying Revolutionary was the highlight of the book so far. Seems like the premise of its own novel just in the interaction between the two.