# Some Petticoat explained — Les Misérables

> Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

## What happens

Mademoiselle Gillenormand, suspicious of Marius's travels, enlists her grand-nephew Lieutenant Théodule to spy on him. Théodule follows Marius to a cemetery, where Marius places flowers on his father's grave, revealing the 'lass' is a grave. The chapter explores family dynamics, curiosity, and Marius's secret grief.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Compassion

Marius's act of placing flowers on his father's grave demonstrates his enduring love and respect for his father, despite family opposition.

### The Human Condition and Fate

The chapter explores the human tendency to assume romantic motives (the 'petticoat') when the truth is a son's grief, highlighting misunderstandings and the complexity of human emotions.

## Character check-ins

### Marius Pontmercy

Marius travels to Vernon and visits his father's grave, placing flowers there, revealing his hidden grief.

### Théodule

Lieutenant Théodule, the grand-nephew, is recruited by his aunt to spy on Marius; he follows Marius to the cemetery.

### Mademoiselle Gillenormand

Aunt Gillenormand, suspicious of Marius's absences, enlists Théodule to investigate, suspecting a romantic affair.

### M. Gillenormand

M. Gillenormand grants Marius permission to travel, but his remark about 'passing the night out' hints at his disapproval.

### Georges Pontmercy

Marius visits the grave of Colonel Baron Pontmercy, his father, placing flowers there.

## Key lines

> he going to carry those flowers to? She must be a splendidly handsome woman for so fine a bouquet. I want to see her.

Théodule assumes Marius is meeting a beautiful woman because of the fine bouquet he bought.

_Théodule's curiosity leads him to follow Marius, expecting a romantic rendezvous._

> The 'lass' was a grave.

The woman Théodule expected turned out to be the grave of Marius's father.

_The reveal underscores the irony of the family's suspicions._

> Some petticoat or other.

Théodule suggests that Marius's secret involves a woman.

_This phrase captures the family's assumption that Marius's absences are due to a romantic affair._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vii-some-petticoat
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters