# VII: To One Sadness Oppose a Sadness and a Half explained — Les Misérables > Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. ## What happens Jean Valjean becomes aware of Marius's presence and his growing attachment to Cosette. He observes Marius's changed behavior and feels a deep, instinctual jealousy and fear of losing Cosette. Despite his internal turmoil, he remains outwardly gentle with Cosette, who herself languishes in sadness over Marius's absence after Valjean stops their visits to the Luxembourg. Both suffer silently, each concealing their true feelings from the other. ## Themes in this chapter ### Suffering and Sacrifice Jean Valjean reflects on his lifelong suffering and sacrifice, feeling that his reward—Cosette—is being threatened by Marius's presence. ### Love and Compassion The chapter explores the complex love between Valjean and Cosette, as well as the budding romantic love between Cosette and Marius, all marked by silent suffering and concealment. ## Character check-ins ### Jean Valjean Grows increasingly suspicious and hostile toward Marius, feeling a resurgence of old ferocity. He decides to stop taking Cosette to the Luxembourg and suffers silently, regretting his decision to leave the convent. ### Marius Pontmercy Continues to pursue Cosette with awkward and conspicuous behavior, wearing new clothes and pretending to read. He falls into Jean Valjean's ambushes and eventually stops appearing at the Luxembourg. ### Cosette Conceals her feelings for Marius and grows sad after Valjean stops their visits. She languishes in silence, hiding her pallor and inner anguish from her father. ## Key lines > Jean Valjean shuddered to the very bottom of his soul. Jean Valjean felt a deep, instinctive fear. _Valjean's primal unease at Marius's presence._ > He no longer came quite close to them as formerly. He seated himself at a distance and pretended to be reading; why did he pretend that? Marius kept his distance and pretended to read, which seemed suspicious to Valjean. _Marius's awkward attempts to conceal his interest in Cosette._ > Jean Valjean had instituted an undeclared war against Marius, which Marius, with the sublime stupidity of his passion and his age, did not divine. Valjean waged a secret campaign against Marius, who was too love-struck to notice. _Valjean's covert opposition to Marius's courtship._ > These two beings who had loved each other so exclusively, and with so touching an affection, and who had lived so long for each other now suffered side by side, each on the other’s account; without acknowledging it to each other, without anger towards each other, and with a smile. Valjean and Cosette, who had always loved each other deeply, now suffered together in silence, each worried for the other but hiding their pain behind smiles. _The mutual, unspoken sorrow between Valjean and Cosette._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vii-to-one-sadness-oppose-a-sadness-and-a-half - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters