# The Battlefield at Night explained — Les Misérables

> Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

## What happens

The chapter describes the aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo on the night of June 18, focusing on the desolate plain, the looting of the dead by marauders, and the encounter between a prowler (Thénardier) and a wounded officer (Pontmercy). Thénardier saves Pontmercy's life, and Pontmercy promises to remember his name.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Human Condition and Fate

The chapter reflects on the grim fate of soldiers after battle, the indifference of nature (the moon remains white despite the red earth), and the random encounters that shape destiny, such as Thénardier saving Pontmercy.

### Suffering and Sacrifice

The vivid description of the dead and dying in the hollow road, the agony of the wounded officer, and the brutality of war highlight the theme of suffering and the sacrifice of lives.

## Character check-ins

### Thénardier

Prowls the battlefield at night as a marauder, stealing from the dead, and saves the life of the wounded officer Pontmercy.

### Georges Pontmercy

A wounded French officer lying among the dead in the hollow road of Ohain; he asks the prowler who won the battle and offers his watch and purse, then reveals his name.

## Key lines

> If ever the sic vos non vobis was applicable, it certainly is to that village of Waterloo. Waterloo took no part, and lay half a league from the scene of action.

The village of Waterloo, which gave its name to the battle, was not actually involved in the fighting and was located half a league away.

_Hugo comments on the irony that the battle is named after a village that played no role in it._

> One of the most surprising is the prompt stripping of the bodies of the dead after the victory. The dawn which follows a battle always rises on naked corpses.

A shocking aspect of war is how quickly the dead are robbed; by morning, the bodies are stripped of their belongings.

_Hugo describes the common practice of looting the dead after a battle._

> The prowler made no reply. He raised his head. A sound of footsteps was audible in the plain; some patrol was probably approaching. The officer murmured, for the death agony was still in his voice:— 'Who won the battle?' 'The English,' answered the prowler.

The wounded officer asked who had won the battle, and the prowler, hearing approaching patrol, replied that the English had won.

_Thénardier informs Pontmercy of the English victory as a patrol approaches._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/xix-the-battlefield-at-night
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters