Les Misérables · Chapter
The Back Room of the Café Musain explained
In the back room of the Café Musain, the Friends of the A.B.C.
What happens
In the back room of the Café Musain, the Friends of the A.B.C. gather for a lively and chaotic discussion. Grantaire, thoroughly drunk, delivers a cynical and rambling monologue on vanity and human folly, while others engage in separate conversations about law, vaudeville, dueling, love, mythology, and politics. Courfeyrac passionately argues against the monarchy and burns a copy of the Touquet Charter, while Combeferre philosophically observes the act.
Themes in this chapter
Revolution and Social Upheaval
The gathering of the Friends of the A.B.C. and Courfeyrac's burning of the Charter reflect revolutionary fervor and rejection of monarchy.
The Human Condition and Fate
Grantaire's drunken monologue explores the vanity and absurdity of life, touching on themes of human folly and existential despair.
Characters to notice
- Marius Pontmercy
Present at the gathering, but remains silent.
- Enjolras
Present but holds his peace during the chaotic discussion.
- Grantaire
Thoroughly drunk, delivers a long, cynical monologue on vanity, life, and history.
- Bossuet
Engaged in a legal discussion and tries to silence Grantaire.
- Joly
Playing dominoes with Bahorel and discussing his love for Musichetta.
- Bahorel
Playing dominoes with Joly and offering advice on love and elegance.
- Jean Prouvaire
Engaged in a poetic debate defending pagan mythology against Christian mythology.
- Combeferre
Upholds the Charter weakly while Courfeyrac argues against it; philosophically watches the Charter burn.
- Courfeyrac
Energetically argues against the monarchy and burns the Touquet Charter.
Key passages
“Life is a hideous invention of I know not whom. It lasts no time at all, and is worth nothing.”
Life is a terrible creation that is brief and meaningless.
Grantaire expresses his nihilistic view of existence.
“A charter is a mask; the lie lurks beneath it. A people which accepts a charter abdicates.”
A charter is a deceptive facade; a people who accept it give up their sovereignty.
Courfeyrac argues against constitutional monarchy, asserting that charters are inherently dishonest.