Les Misérables · Chapter
Book I: The War Between Four Walls explained
This chapter sets the stage for the June 1832 uprising in Paris, detailing the political and social tensions leading to the rebellion.
What happens
This chapter sets the stage for the June 1832 uprising in Paris, detailing the political and social tensions leading to the rebellion. It introduces the barricade as a symbol of resistance and the characters who will participate in the conflict, including Enjolras and his fellow revolutionaries.
Themes in this chapter
Revolution and Social Upheaval
The chapter vividly depicts the build-up to and the initial stages of the June 1832 rebellion, highlighting the revolutionary fervor and the clash between the people and the state.
Suffering and Sacrifice
The revolutionaries are portrayed as willing to sacrifice their lives for a greater cause, emphasizing the personal cost of political struggle.
Characters to notice
- Enjolras
Leader of the revolutionary students, central figure in organizing the barricade.
- Marius Pontmercy
Present at the barricade, torn between his love for Cosette and his revolutionary ideals.
- Gavroche
The street urchin who actively participates in building the barricade and later in the fighting.
- Combeferre
A key revolutionary, known for his philosophical and practical contributions to the uprising.
- Grantaire
A skeptical but loyal follower of Enjolras, present at the barricade.
Key passages
“The insurrection had a sort of epic grandeur.”
The uprising was seen as a grand, heroic struggle.
Reflects the romanticized view of the rebellion.
“The barricade was a fortress of the people.”
The barricade served as a stronghold for the common people.
Symbolizes the people's resistance against authority.