Les Misérables · Chapter
Cosette's Apprehensions explained
During Jean Valjean's brief absence, Cosette experiences a series of unsettling incidents in the garden, hearing footsteps and seeing a mysterious shadow with a round hat.
What happens
During Jean Valjean's brief absence, Cosette experiences a series of unsettling incidents in the garden, hearing footsteps and seeing a mysterious shadow with a round hat. Despite her initial terror, Jean Valjean returns and reassures her by showing that the shadow is merely cast by a chimney-pipe, restoring her peace of mind.
Themes in this chapter
The Human Condition and Fate
Cosette's fear and uncertainty reflect the human experience of confronting the unknown and the psychological impact of perceived threats.
Love and Compassion
Jean Valjean's protective actions, staying in the garden at night and reassuring Cosette, demonstrate his deep love and care for her.
Characters to notice
- Jean Valjean
Takes a journey, returns to find Cosette frightened, investigates the garden, and reassures her by explaining the shadow is from a chimney-pipe.
- Cosette
Alone in the house, hears footsteps and sees a mysterious shadow in the garden, becomes terrified, but is later reassured by Jean Valjean.
- Toussaint
Mentioned as being in bed at the time of Cosette's first fright.
Key passages
“During the first fortnight in April, Jean Valjean took a journey. This, as the reader knows, happened from time to time, at very long intervals.”
In early April, Jean Valjean went on one of his rare trips, which occurred only occasionally.
Establishes the context of Jean Valjean's absence.
“Cosette thought that she had been mistaken. She thought that she had heard a noise. It was a hallucination produced by the melancholy and magnificent chorus of Weber...”
Cosette convinced herself the sound was imaginary, a result of the haunting music she had been playing.
Shows Cosette's initial rationalization of her fear.
“The disquieting point about it was, that the shadow had assuredly not been a phantom. Phantoms do not wear round hats.”
What troubled her most was that the shadow clearly belonged to a real person, since ghosts don't wear hats.
Highlights Cosette's growing terror and her logical observation.
“Jean Valjean grew anxious. "It cannot be anything," said he. He left her under some pretext, and went into the garden, and she saw him examining the gate with great attention.”
Jean Valjean became worried, dismissed her fears, but then secretly went to inspect the garden gate closely.
Reveals Jean Valjean's concern and his protective instincts.
“"I have waked you for the purpose of reassuring you," said he; "look, there is your shadow with the round hat."”
He woke her to calm her fears, pointing out that the shadow was just from a chimney-pipe.
Jean Valjean's method of reassuring Cosette by providing a rational explanation.