# Gavroche as a Profound Calculator of Distances explained — Les Misérables

> Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

## What happens

Marius, having kissed the brow of the dying Éponine, reads Cosette's letter revealing that her father is taking her to England. He writes a farewell letter to Cosette and a note to his grandfather, then entrusts Gavroche with delivering the letter to Cosette immediately. Gavroche agrees and runs off, planning to deliver it and return before the barricade is attacked.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Sacrifice

Éponine's death and Marius's acceptance of his own death highlight the theme of sacrifice for love and duty.

### Love and Compassion

Marius's kiss on Éponine's brow and his tender farewell to Cosette through a letter demonstrate love and compassion.

## Character check-ins

### Marius Pontmercy

Marius reads Cosette's letter, writes farewell notes, and sends Gavroche to deliver a letter to Cosette.

### Éponine

Éponine dies after having intercepted Cosette's letter and led Marius to the barricade.

### Cosette

Cosette's letter to Marius reveals her father is taking her to England; she entrusted the letter to Éponine.

### Gavroche

Gavroche agrees to deliver Marius's letter to Cosette and runs off through Mondétour lane.

### Jean Valjean

Jean Valjean decides to move to the Rue de l'Homme Armé and then to England, prompting Cosette's letter.

### M. Gillenormand

Marius writes a note asking for his body to be taken to his grandfather, M. Gillenormand.

## Key lines

> Marius kept his promise. He dropped a kiss on that livid brow, where the icy perspiration stood in beads. This was no infidelity to Cosette; it was a gentle and pensive farewell to an unhappy soul.

Marius fulfilled his vow by kissing Éponine's cold, sweaty forehead, a tender and thoughtful goodbye to a suffering soul, not a betrayal of Cosette.

_Marius's compassionate farewell to the dying Éponine._

> She died with the tragic joy of jealous hearts who drag the beloved being into their own death, and who say: 'No one shall have him!'

Éponine died with the bitter happiness of a jealous person who pulls the one they love into death with them, thinking, 'No one else will possess him.'

_Éponine's motive for leading Marius to the barricade._

> The fatigue of living is insupportable; death is sooner over with.

The weariness of life is unbearable; dying is quicker and easier.

_Marius's despairing thought as he contemplates death._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vii-gavroche-as-a-profound-calculator-of-distances
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters