Les Misérables · Chapter
In Which Will Be Found the Words to an English Air Which Was in Fashion in 1832 explained
Marius waits anxiously in his room as the Jondrette family prepares for a criminal ambush.
What happens
Marius waits anxiously in his room as the Jondrette family prepares for a criminal ambush. He hears Jondrette return, gives orders to his family, and sends his daughters to watch outside. Marius hides under his bed when the eldest daughter checks his room, but she only looks in the mirror and leaves. The chapter builds tension as the trap is set.
Themes in this chapter
Justice vs. Law
Marius contemplates the dual march of crime and justice in the dark, symbolizing the tension between legal authority and moral righteousness.
The Human Condition and Fate
Marius feels caught in an unforeseen adventure, and the entire day seems like a dream, reflecting the uncertainty and fatefulness of human existence.
Characters to notice
- Marius Pontmercy
Marius sits on his bed, feeling the pistols in his pockets, and hides under his bed when the Jondrette daughter checks his room.
- Thénardier
Jondrette returns home, gives instructions to his family, and prepares for the ambush, referring to the trap as 'the mousetrap'.
- Madame Thénardier
The mother confirms she has greased the door hinges and cooked potatoes; she is ready to go out as instructed.
- Éponine
The eldest daughter enters Marius's room with a candle, checks the mirror, and hums a song before leaving.
- Azelma
The younger daughter is mentioned as being sent with her sister to watch outside the house.
Key passages
“He thought of the double march which was going on at that moment in the dark—crime advancing on one side, justice coming up on the other.”
He reflected on the simultaneous approach of crime and justice in the darkness.
Marius's internal reflection on the impending confrontation between the criminals and the police.
“The mousetrap is open. The cats are there.”
The trap is set; the victims are in place.
Jondrette uses a metaphor to indicate that the ambush is ready and the target is present.