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The Man Who Laughs
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The Man Who Laughs - Week 8 - December 19-25
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Book VIIGwynplaine in a reverie of his thoughts sits somewhere in his castle caught in between two worlds. Consumed by thoughts of Dea, he attempts to leave the castle to be with her. The castle being quite large and maze-like, Gwynplaine finds it difficult to seek out an exit; instead coming upon the Duchess in the midst of sleep. Wrench. This Duchess who once using words that enticed has now left him in a haze of confusion as those words are now flowing like a volcanic eruption, toying with him in fits of love and hate (504). At the sound of a bell, a royal order arrives sealing the fate between the throne and footstool. In a matter of seconds, her emotions switch to the off position and her words are even more callous and barbed than before... Since you are my husband, begone...You have no right to be here; it is my lover's place...I must go myself. So you are my husband. Nothing can be better. I hate you(507). What a sick person to treat Gwynplaine as a plaything, without having any regard for his thoughts and feelings...It is too cruel and perhaps the reason the chapter was titled Satan -Josiana is beyond any reproach-She is beyond iniquitous.
Tom-Jim-Jack is Lord David Dirry-Moir and Barkilphedro comes out of nowhere as the new introductions between old acquaintances are made...With 90 pages left to read, how does this all end...Quickly and rushed, me thinks :S?
Book VIII Chapters I-V
The first five chapters further delve into Gwynplaine's new plight...Stuck in the middle of adversity and privilege. Also, talk about pomp and circumstance... Wow! He's being pushed in all of these new directions unable to navigate the route himself instead having to follow the lead and direction of others. I think he's just in a constant state of confusion and will have to snap out of in the coming pages, or else it won't be too good for Gwynplaine with Barkilphedro lurking around.
What was interesting about these chapters to me is that at every turn of the page, Hugo continues to list familial hierarchies, royal decrees spanning generations, thus the lack of any real change other than the status quo...I understood this to cement the idea of injustice. The word justice has been used over 120 times by Hugo in these 690+pages; since the beginning he has attempted to convey the idea of justice in a society unjust. Ursus speaks the truth while Gwynplaine thinks of justice, like the chapter suggests in Book II: Chapter XI, so I think, I am hoping this may be Gwynplaine's position in his new world...To be just, or to fight for it in some fashion. How it will play out, one against the many, I can only speculate at this point...But it will be good reading.
Is there a final thread, or no... I can post here, but wanted to know for sure?
Feel free to open a separate one ami I haven't had a chance to yet. Thanks!
I'll just post here, if you can edit the thread title to reflect the addition of the final week.Thanks.
I'll open a thread for the last week then
Duchess Josiana is weird. That's all I really got from this reading. There is a lot of who's who in this part too. I'm not really interested in that part of the book (the ranks and peerage stuff). The wealth of the aristocracy is amazing. It's almost like they live in their own little world away from real world matters. Their money keeps them safe.I wonder how long Gwynplaine is going to stick around before he comes to his senses.
Hugo meant be calling the chapter Satan anyways? It still seems our new Lord wants to return to Dea and Ursus and share his riches with them, so I am anxious to see what happens next! The reveal of the identity of the new Lord did not quite happen in this section, so we will see! Ursus and Dea, I cannot imagine their reactions!