#1.3.7

[lesmiscollageproject]

“I say nothing about Fantine, she is visionary, dreamy, pensive, sensitive; she is a phantom with the form of a nymph and the modesty of a nun, who has strayed into the life of a grisette but takes refuge in illusion and sings, and prays and gazes at the blue sky without knowing clearly what she is seeing or what she is doing, and who, with eyes fixed on heaven, wanders in a garden among more birds than exist there.”

[thesebloodydays]

Because I think it’s fun to compare the two (even though there are a lot of important differences), some of Tholomyès’ rants in this chapter really reminded of Grantaire. Not that Grantaire would necessarily agree with everything that Tholomyès is saying but the general structure of the “speech”. Even the way Tholomyès and Blachevelle interacted in this chapter remained me a little of Joly, Grantaire and Bossuet.

I can really see Grantaire ranting about puns for ages, though.

[lesmiscollageproject]

"The man who is not loved hovers like a vulture over the sweethearts of others; and for my part, to all unfortunate widowers, I issue the sublime proclamation of Bonaparte to the army of Italy, ‘Soldiers, you lack everything. The enemy has everything.”

[lesmiscollageproject]

“Ladies, I idolize you all.”

[lesmiscollageproject]

“My soul flies off toward virgin forests and savannas. Everything is beautiful. Flies hum in the sunbeams. The hummingbirds whizz in the sunshine. Kiss me Fantine!”

And, by mistake, he kissed Favourite.

[lesmiscollageproject]

In the meantime, while some were singing, the rest were all noisily talking. There was absolute pandemonium. Tholomyes interfered.

[lesmiscollageproject]

“I recommend to you moderation in all your desires. As sure as my name is Felix Tholomyes, I speak wisely. Happy is he who, when the hour comes, takes a heroic resolve and abdicates like Sylla or Origenes.”

[jelepermets]

Also 1.3.7 might as well be called “Foreshadowing”. These past few chapters have been slowly killing me with dread.