Brick Club 5.1.13, 5.1.14
“It is certain that on the morning of the 6th of June the insurrection had, for an hour or two, a certain recrudescence.” Other than me learning the word recrudescence, this sucks. It doesn’t just tease the barricaders with hope, it shows us that the barricaders, despite their commitment to martyrdom, still wanted to hope, were deep down desperate for anything that still might fan that ember.
“There is another who will do us no more harm.” This concept keeps coming up and, despite Combeferre’s brief rebuttal, it’s the driving force behind the tenacity of insurgents willing to make a final stand rather than surrender. It’s also feels like a strangely specific foreshadowing of Gavroche’s fate. “Let us die facing our foes / make them bleed while we can”
The forges of the barricades are throwing off sparks, but the military has spent decades smothering fires. Ironically, the flame is extinguished just as the sun rises. “It was like heat lightning, and the insurgents felt that kind of leaden pall fall upon them which the indifference of the people casts over the wilful when abandoned.”
I’m Bossuet, I too cheer myself up by talking about Enjolras. Hapgood says: “It is a thing unheard of that a man should be as cold as ice and as bold as fire.” Wilbour says: “It is a marvellous thing that a man can be as cold as ice and as bold as fire.”
Of course, Enjolras is in love and he doesn’t live alone. How can you live alone when you live in the very geopolitical borders of your mistress everyday? I’m being facetious but Enjolras is very definitely not, “had anybody been near him he would have heard him murmur in an undertone, ‘Patria.’” Aww...
Another cannon arrives on the scene and the barricaders, in response, kill most of the artillerymen, which goes without moral commentary this time around. “‘This goes well,’ said Bossuet to Enjolras. ‘Success.’” I’d hold my optimism, Lesgle, dear. If this were D&D, I’d say the barricade is…looking rough.
