Les Misérables · Chapter
Sister Simplice Put to the Proof explained
Fantine, believing that M.
What happens
Fantine, believing that M. Madeleine (Jean Valjean) has gone to Montfermeil to retrieve her daughter Cosette, experiences a surge of joy and hope. Despite her grave illness, she speaks excitedly of Cosette's return and plans for their reunion. As the hours pass and Madeleine does not appear, her hope wanes and she becomes despondent, singing a melancholy lullaby. The doctor observes a temporary improvement in her condition, attributing it to the power of anticipated joy, but remains cautious about her prognosis.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Compassion
Fantine's love for Cosette is the driving force of the chapter, manifesting in her joy, her lullaby, and her desperate hope for reunion. Sister Simplice's gentle care also exemplifies compassion.
Suffering and Sacrifice
Fantine's physical and moral suffering is evident in her deteriorated appearance and the melancholy of her song. Her sacrifice for Cosette is a backdrop to her current state.
The Human Condition and Fate
The chapter explores the fragility of life and the interplay between hope and despair. Fantine's fluctuating condition underscores the uncertainty of fate and the power of belief.
Characters to notice
- Fantine
Fantine is gravely ill but experiences a temporary uplift in spirits, believing that M. Madeleine has gone to fetch Cosette. She speaks joyfully of the reunion, sings a lullaby, and shows signs of hope, though her physical condition remains critical.
- Sister Simplice
Sister Simplice attends to Fantine, trying to calm her and manage her expectations. She explains to the doctor that M. Madeleine is absent and that they have not corrected Fantine's belief about his journey.
- Jean Valjean
Though not physically present, Jean Valjean (as M. Madeleine) is central to the chapter as the object of Fantine's hope. She believes he has gone to Montfermeil to bring Cosette back, and his delay causes her distress.
- Cosette
Cosette is the child Fantine longs to see. Fantine speaks of her fondly, recalling her childhood and planning for her arrival, though Cosette does not appear in the chapter.
Key passages
“He set out this morning for Paris; in fact, he need not even go through Paris; Montfermeil is a little to the left as you come thence. Do you remember how he said to me yesterday, when I spoke to him of Cosette, Soon, soon? He wants to give me a surprise, you know!”
Fantine explains to Sister Simplice that M. Madeleine left for Montfermeil to fetch Cosette, recalling his promise that she would see her daughter soon.
Fantine's hopeful recounting of Madeleine's journey reveals her deep longing and trust in his promise.
“Lovely things we will buy As we stroll the faubourgs through. Roses are pink, cornflowers are blue, I love my love, cornflowers are blue.”
Fantine sings a folk-like lullaby about buying pretty things and a mother's love for her child, blending joy with a premonition of death.
The song reflects Fantine's maternal love and her subconscious awareness of her own mortality, as it includes a request for a winding-sheet.
“She is doing better; if good luck willed that the mayor should actually arrive tomorrow with the child, who knows? there are crises so astounding; great joy has been known to arrest maladies; I know well that this is an organic disease, and in an advanced state, but all those things are such mysteries: we may be able to save her.”
The doctor notes Fantine's temporary improvement and suggests that the joy of Cosette's return might miraculously aid her recovery, though he acknowledges the severity of her illness.
The doctor's cautious optimism highlights the theme of hope against the odds and the mysterious power of emotional healing.