Les Misérables · Chapter
IX: The Old Soul of Gaul explained
This chapter explores the character and spirit of the Parisian gamin, linking it to the broader Gallic temperament.
What happens
This chapter explores the character and spirit of the Parisian gamin, linking it to the broader Gallic temperament. It describes the gamin as a blend of mischief, wit, and resilience, emerging from poverty and the streets, yet capable of heroism and idealism. Figures like Molière, Beaumarchais, Voltaire, Camille Desmoulins, Championnet, and Barra are invoked to illustrate this archetype, which embodies both the flaws and the virtues of the French soul.
Themes in this chapter
The Human Condition and Fate
The chapter examines the gamin's existence as a product of poverty and unhappiness, yet capable of amusement and heroism, reflecting the paradoxes of the human condition.
Revolution and Social Upheaval
The gamin is portrayed as a figure of revolt, straightening up from the gutter with defiance, and is linked to revolutionary figures like Camille Desmoulins and Barra, embodying the spirit of social upheaval.
Characters to notice
- Gavroche
Gavroche is the embodiment of the Parisian gamin described in this chapter, representing the street-smart, resilient, and rebellious spirit of the faubourgs.
Key passages
“Gaminerie is a shade of the Gallic spirit. Mingled with good sense, it sometimes adds force to the latter, as alcohol does to wine.”
The mischievousness of the gamin is a facet of the French character; when combined with common sense, it can amplify strength, much like alcohol fortifies wine.
This metaphor highlights the dual nature of the gamin's spirit as both playful and potent.
“This child of the puddle is also the child of the ideal. Measure that spread of wings which reaches from Molière to Barra.”
The gamin, born from the streets, also embodies lofty aspirations. Consider the vast range of expression from the comic genius Molière to the youthful hero Barra.
This contrast underscores the gamin's capacity for both lowly origins and noble ideals.