# VI: The Agony of Death After the Agony of Life explained — Les Misérables

> Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

## What happens

Marius inspects the smaller barricade and hears his name whispered in the darkness. He finds Éponine, dressed in men's clothes, mortally wounded after taking a bullet meant for him. She confesses her love, reveals she kept a letter for him, and asks for a kiss on her brow after death. She dies in his arms as Gavroche sings nearby.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Compassion

Éponine's self-sacrifice to save Marius and her final confession of love highlight the theme of love and compassion amidst violence.

### Suffering and Sacrifice

Éponine's agonizing death and her willingness to die for Marius embody the theme of suffering and sacrifice.

## Character check-ins

### Marius Pontmercy

Marius inspects the barricade and discovers Éponine dying; he promises to kiss her brow after death.

### Éponine

Éponine, disguised in men's clothes, is mortally wounded after blocking a gun aimed at Marius; she confesses her love and gives him a letter before dying.

### Gavroche

Gavroche is heard singing a popular song while loading his gun on a table in the barricade.

## Key lines

> I am dying.

Éponine tells Marius she is dying from a bullet wound.

_Éponine reveals her mortal condition to Marius._

> The bullet traversed my hand, but it came out through my back.

Éponine explains that the bullet passed through her hand and exited her back.

_Éponine describes the path of the bullet that wounded her._

> I believe that I was a little bit in love with you.

Éponine confesses her love for Marius just before dying.

_Éponine's final words express her romantic feelings for Marius._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vi-the-agony-of-death-after-the-agony-of-life
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters