OS MISERÁVEIS | #4 Marius

Summary

This video delves into the character of Marius from Victor Hugo's *Les Misérables*, exploring his ideological evolution and romantic entanglement with Cosette. The speaker analyzes Marius as a reflection of the turbulent 19th century, caught between revolutionary ideals and personal struggles. Marius’ journey, from his confused political stance to his self-destructive romanticism, symbolizes the contradictions of his era. The speaker critiques the bourgeois romanticism of Marius' sacrifice, contrasting it with the real-world suffering of the working class, particularly through the character of Fantine, offering a profound reflection on class, love, and revolutionary change.

Takeaways

• 😀 Marius is portrayed as a romantic hero, embodying the ideological conflicts and passion for change in the early 19th century.
• 😀 Marius represents the era of revolutions, filled with contrasting ideologies and the desire for a new social order.
• 😀 Marius’s character is shaped by his complex relationship with his grandfather, who supports the old monarchy, and his admiration for his father, a Napoleonic soldier.
• 😀 Marius’s journey of self-discovery is marked by his ideological transformation, shifting from conservatism to support for the Republican cause.
• 😀 Despite being surrounded by radical political ideas, Marius initially does not understand the cause he is fighting for, highlighting the confusion of young revolutionaries in the time.
• 😀 Marius’s romantic involvement with Cosette deeply influences his choices, including abandoning his career and wealth for a life of poverty and love.
• 😀 Marius’s participation in the barricades in 1832 is symbolic of a revolutionary who joins a cause without fully understanding the reasons behind it, driven more by personal loss and despair.
• 😀 The contrast between Marius and Fantine is significant, as Marius, born into privilege, almost dies for love, while Fantine, who has nothing, sacrifices everything for her daughter.
• 😀 The script reflects the romantic idealization of sacrifice for love, but critiques the privilege and futility of such sacrifices in the context of class disparities.
• 😀 The video explores the contradictions of 19th-century society, where the bourgeoisie could afford to romanticize ideals like death for love, while the working class struggled with basic survival.

Q & A

What is the central focus of the video?

The video focuses on the character Marius from Victor Hugo's *Les Misérables*, exploring his ideological journey and romantic involvement with Cosette.

What are the two main points the speaker highlights about Marius?

The two main points are Marius's ideological journey, especially his connection to the political ideas of his time, and his romantic relationship with Cosette, positioning him as a romantic hero.

How does Marius's relationship with his grandfather shape his early beliefs?

Marius is initially influenced by his grandfather, a staunch royalist, but after learning about his father's revolutionary past, Marius shifts his political allegiance toward republican ideals.

What role does Marius's understanding of his father's death play in his character development?

Marius’s discovery of his father's death at Waterloo shifts his political views and pushes him to embrace the cause of the republic, marking a significant ideological transformation.

What does Marius's involvement with the 'Friends of the ABC' represent?

Marius's involvement with the 'Friends of the ABC' represents his entry into the radical political world of the time, where various ideologies coexist, and Marius becomes torn between different revolutionary causes.

Why does Marius participate in the 1832 revolt despite not fully understanding the cause?

Marius joins the revolt out of a sense of duty and a desire for change, though he lacks a deep understanding of the political goals. His participation is also driven by personal despair and his unfulfilled romantic love.

What is the significance of the excerpt from Enjolras's speech in the video?

The excerpt from Enjolras's speech reflects the idealistic and utopian beliefs of the revolutionaries, expressing hope for a future free from war, poverty, and injustice, emphasizing progress and enlightenment as guiding principles.

How does the video contrast Marius's romantic idealism with the harsh realities of the time?

The video contrasts Marius's romanticism, where he is willing to sacrifice everything for love, with the more pragmatic and difficult lives of others like Fantine, who struggles to survive and care for her daughter in poverty.

What critique does the speaker offer regarding Marius's actions and his bourgeois mindset?

The speaker criticizes Marius's bourgeois mindset, arguing that his willingness to give up everything for unrequited love reflects the naivety and privilege of the bourgeoisie, who had the luxury to indulge in such idealism while others suffered.

What does the speaker mean by the 'contradictions of the 19th century'?

The speaker refers to the contradictions of the 19th century by highlighting the disparity between the privileged lives of the bourgeoisie, like Marius, who can afford to indulge in romantic ideals, and the working class, like Fantine, who struggle for basic survival amidst societal and economic inequalities.