Les Misérables · Chapter
M. Myriel Becomes M. Welcome explained
This chapter introduces M.
What happens
This chapter introduces M. Myriel, the Bishop of Digne, who is known for his extreme charity and humility. Upon arriving in Digne, he exchanges his grand episcopal palace for the cramped hospital, giving the patients his home. He carefully budgets his salary, allocating nearly all of it to charitable causes, and becomes known as 'Monseigneur Bienvenu' (Welcome) by the poor. His sister Baptistine and servant Madame Magloire support his selfless lifestyle.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Compassion
The Bishop's selfless exchange of his palace for the hospital and his detailed charity budget exemplify profound compassion for the poor and sick.
Social Injustice and Poverty
The chapter highlights the dire conditions of the hospital and the widespread poverty, which the Bishop actively works to alleviate.
Suffering and Sacrifice
The Bishop sacrifices his own comfort and wealth, living on a minimal personal allowance to relieve the suffering of others.
Characters to notice
- Monseigneur Bienvenu
The Bishop of Digne who gives away his palace to the hospital and lives frugally, dedicating his income to charity.
- Mademoiselle Baptistine
The Bishop's sister who lives with him and manages the household with devotion and economy.
- Madame Magloire
The Bishop's servant who grumbles about his extreme generosity but ultimately supports his decisions.
Key passages
“The poor people of the countryside had selected, with a sort of affectionate instinct, among the names and prenomens of their bishop, that which had a meaning for them; and they never called him anything except Monseigneur Bienvenu.”
The local poor affectionately nicknamed the Bishop 'Monseigneur Bienvenu' (Welcome) because it resonated with his kind nature.
This shows how the community recognized and honored the Bishop's compassionate character.
“There is evidently a mistake here. There are thirty-six of you, in five or six small rooms. There are three of us here, and we have room for sixty. There is some mistake, I tell you; you have my house, and I have yours.”
The Bishop declares that the hospital patients should have his spacious palace while he and his household move into the cramped hospital.
This dramatic exchange of homes illustrates the Bishop's radical commitment to charity.