Les Misérables · Chapter
I: M. Myriel explained
This chapter introduces M.
What happens
This chapter introduces M. Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel, the Bishop of Digne, an old man of about seventy-five who has held the see since 1806. It recounts his background as the son of a parliamentary councillor, his early life devoted to gallantry, his emigration to Italy during the Revolution, the death of his wife, and his subsequent return as a priest. His appointment as bishop came after a notable encounter with Napoleon. The chapter also describes his arrival in Digne with his sister Mademoiselle Baptistine and their servant Madame Magloire, and notes that after nine years, the initial rumors about him have faded into oblivion.
Themes in this chapter
The Human Condition and Fate
The chapter explores the mysterious transformation of M. Myriel from a worldly gallant to a devout bishop, suggesting the role of fate and personal upheaval in shaping one's path.
Redemption and Transformation
Myriel's life story—from a life of pleasure and loss to a priesthood and episcopacy—hints at a profound personal redemption and change of heart.
Characters to notice
- Monseigneur Bienvenu
Introduced as the Bishop of Digne, an old man of about seventy-five, with a past involving nobility, emigration, and a sudden turn to the priesthood.
- Mademoiselle Baptistine
His elderly spinster sister, ten years his junior, described as a long, pale, thin, gentle creature embodying the beauty of goodness.
- Madame Magloire
Their only domestic, a little, fat, white old woman, corpulent and bustling, who serves as both maid and housekeeper.
Key passages
“True or false, that which is said of men often occupies as important a place in their lives, and above all in their destinies, as that which they do.”
Whether accurate or not, the rumors about a person can shape their life and fate just as much as their actual actions.
This reflects on the power of reputation and gossip in the community.
“She was a soul rather than a virgin. Her person seemed made of a shadow; there was hardly sufficient body to provide for sex; a little matter enclosing a light; large eyes forever drooping;—a mere pretext for a soul’s remaining on the earth.”
Mademoiselle Baptistine seemed more spirit than flesh, as if her body was just a thin veil for her soul, with her downcast eyes being the only hint of her earthly presence.
This poetic description emphasizes her purity and spiritual nature.