As we continue discussing Les Miserables and its many themes and connotations relating to revolution. I cannot help but make connections to modern-day France and how its revolutionary history has helped shape the scope of society. This is especially true in comparison to the United States which has a society with laws and regulations that are stifling and limiting the individual and their right to the pursuit of happiness.
It was so fascinating walking through what once was. I thought a lot about how time allows for change and evolution, but even with change, there are still some aspects that remain the same. In fact, we visited the building in which Cossette and Jean Valjean would have been living in the novel. As we were viewing the building I could easily envision Cossette looking out her window longingly. I could also easily envision Marius looking up the building hoping to catch a glimpse of Cossette from the window. And so, even though the street had changed drastically it still had remnants of its century-old history, that with the context of the novel, made it easy to physically enter the world of the novel.
The ability to really ground yourself in the fictional universe of any narrative is such an asset, especially when pondering various themes. This past week we visited the area in which the students and others fighting for the revolution in Les Miserables built barricades. It really put the revolutionary spirit in perspective for me. As such, I started to think about France’s history with revolution and how that corresponds with their present-day times. I have always found it super interesting and admirable how the French are known for rioting when they disagree with the government. It's a part of their culture; the French are known for their love of protest. And as a result, they have a society that prioritizes individual well-being, at the very least, in comparison to American lifestyle values. We see this in their universal healthcare, the ease and affordability of medication, and even their lengthy vacations in the summer. The ability to protest effectively allows there to constantly be dialogue and collaboration between the people and their government about how to form and shape society. I find this to be a very beautiful concept.
As it relates to Les Miserables, the process of being able to follow a narrative in which at certain parts you got to witness certain individuals eat, breathe, and live revolution was such an interesting dichotomy when put in place with present-day France. Specifically, some of the students in Les Miserables were very dedicated to the cause of the revolution. However, it almost felt like the modern-day equivalent of a naive and pretentious college student who just discovered Marxist literature and won’t let anyone within a two-mile radius of them forget it. But what does that mean? What does it truly mean to be young and radical? For example, Marius discovers revolutionary ideals through learning about the true details of his father’s history that has was hidden from him by his grandfather. But in joining the revolution, one cannot help but understand that no matter what Marius will always have a safety net. He chose to be poor, which is radically different than being confined to a life of poverty. At the end of the day, he comes from a comfortable background, and should things ever get too tough for him, he can always go back to his grandfather who loves him dearly and will welcome him with open arms. This is a privilege most people fighting for the revolution are not privy to.
And so, I think we often have to call into question the true nature of people fighting for progressive ideals when much of their own well-being is based on inequity. Will they continue to fight for equality if that means that their own way of life will be compromised? For example, there are many people in Western countries that speak openly about the injustice the West has inflicted on the global south, through colonization and neocolonialism. And it is very easy to champion wealth distribution on a global scale when you know that the chance of such a thing happening is virtually impossible. But, if it were possible in some hypothetical situation, I think many of the same people who champion this kind of equality would not be so eager to redistribute wealth if it meant that their own quality of life had to be diminished.
For example, a country like France, as with all western nations, built most of its wealth by depleting resources from African nations. Under the hypothetical situation, that France was forced to give back all of the stolen wealth it has accrued, or even a portion of the stolen wealth it has accrued, this would devastate France’s economy. And so, once an individual’s way of life is being directly threatened they are much less likely to want to pursue the most equitable course of action.
It is timely to note that Haiti is still paying off a massive debt to France in exchange for recognizing Haiti’s sovereignty as a country.
Overall, the concept of revolution is of course an important topic. It is such a treat to be able to ponder such topics in a country like France. However, I think it is also very important critically think about the investment we all truly have in the concept of revolution and a progressive future. Our background and upbringing as well as our current socio-economic standing will certainly shape our investment. This is true within the context of Les Miserable and this is true now.
