# M. Madeleine in Mourning explained — Les Misérables > Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. ## What happens In early 1820, the death of M. Myriel, the Bishop of Digne, is announced. M. Madeleine appears in full mourning, leading the townspeople to speculate about a connection between him and the bishop. When asked, Madeleine claims he was a servant in the bishop's household in his youth. His mourning and his kindness to young Savoyard chimney sweeps further elevate his standing in Montreuil-sur-Mer. ## Themes in this chapter ### Love and Compassion The narrator reflects on the profound happiness of being loved and cared for, exemplified by the blind bishop's relationship with his sister. ### Redemption and Transformation M. Madeleine's mourning and his claim of having served the bishop hint at his past transformation and ongoing redemption. ## Character check-ins ### M. Madeleine Appears in mourning for the Bishop of Digne, claiming to have been a servant in his youth; his actions raise his social standing. ### Monseigneur Bienvenu The Bishop of Digne, whose death is announced; he had been blind for many years and was cared for by his sister. ## Key lines > The supreme happiness of life consists in the conviction that one is loved; loved for one’s own sake—let us say rather, loved in spite of one’s self; this conviction the blind man possesses. The greatest joy in life is knowing you are loved for who you are, even despite your flaws, and a blind person can have that certainty. _Reflects on the bliss of being loved unconditionally, as experienced by the blind bishop._ > It is because I was a servant in his family in my youth. I served in his household when I was young. _M. Madeleine's explanation for wearing mourning for the bishop._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/iv-m-madeleine-in-mourning - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters