# A Double Quartette explained — Les Misérables

> Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

## What happens

This chapter introduces four young students—Tholomyès, Listolier, Fameuil, and Blachevelle—and their respective mistresses: Fantine, Dahlia, Zéphine, and Favorite. It focuses on Fantine's pure and faithful love for Tholomyès, contrasting her goodness with the more worldly and philosophical attitudes of the other three women. The chapter ends with Tholomyès proposing a surprise outing, which the group eagerly plans.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Compassion

Fantine's first, sole, and faithful love for Tholomyès is contrasted with the more casual attachments of the other women, highlighting the theme of pure love.

### Social Injustice and Poverty

Fantine's origins from the 'dregs of the people' and her lack of family name or baptismal name illustrate the social shadow and poverty from which she emerged.

## Character check-ins

### Fantine

Introduced as a beautiful blonde, pure and faithful in her love for Tholomyès; she is the only one of the four women not addressed informally by her lover.

### Tholomyès

The witty, aging student leader of the group, with an income of four thousand francs; he proposes a surprise outing for the women.

### Favorite

One of the four mistresses, named for having been in England; she is more experienced and worldly, with a complicated family background.

### Dahlia

A mistress of Listolier, known for her pretty nails and drawn to idleness.

### Zéphine

A mistress of Fameuil, who won him over with her roguish and caressing manner.

### Listolier

One of the four students, from Cahors, who adores Dahlia.

## Key lines

> She alone, of all the four, was not called 'thou' by a single one of them.

Fantine was the only one among the four women who was not addressed informally by her lover.

_Emphasizes Fantine's purity and the respectful distance in her relationship with Tholomyès._

> She had gold and pearls for her dowry; but her gold was on her head, and her pearls were in her mouth.

Fantine's only wealth was her beautiful blonde hair and her fine teeth.

_Metaphorically describes Fantine's physical beauty as her only dowry._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/ii-a-double-quartette
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters