# Mortuus Pater Filium Moriturum Expectat explained — Les Misérables

> Chapter companion for Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

## What happens

Marius dashes out of the barricade too late to save Gavroche, who is dead. He brings the child's body back, and Combeferre retrieves a basket of cartridges. Gavroche is laid beside Mabeuf under a black shawl. The defenders distribute ammunition, but Jean Valjean refuses his share. The barricade's interior is calm despite the danger, with Enjolras grave and commanding, Combeferre tending wounds, and others preparing for the final stand. Marius is troubled by thoughts of his father.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Sacrifice

Gavroche's death and the calm preparation for the final stand highlight the theme of sacrifice in the face of inevitable doom.

### The Human Condition and Fate

The juxtaposition of calm and chaos, and Marius' reflection on his father's debt, underscore the human condition and the weight of fate.

## Character check-ins

### Marius Pontmercy

Marius dashes out to retrieve Gavroche's body, is grazed by a bullet, and reflects on his father's debt to Thénardier.

### Gavroche

Gavroche is killed while collecting cartridges; his body is laid on the table beside Mabeuf.

### Combeferre

Combeferre follows Marius, retrieves the basket of cartridges, distributes them, and later dresses wounds.

### Enjolras

Enjolras remains grave and commanding, dominating the barricade with a Spartan attitude.

### Jean Valjean

Jean Valjean sits motionless on a stone post, refuses cartridges, and stares silently at the wall.

### Courfeyrac

Courfeyrac bandages Marius' brow and arranges an arsenal near Enjolras.

## Key lines

> Alas! he thought, 'that which the father had done for his father, he was requiting to the son; only, Thénardier had brought back his father alive; he was bringing back the child dead.'

Marius reflects bitterly that he is repaying Thénardier's rescue of his father by bringing back Thénardier's son dead.

_Marius' internal conflict ties the present tragedy to past debts._

> Heroism has its originals.

Heroism takes many forms, including unusual ones.

_Combeferre comments on Jean Valjean's refusal to fight despite defending the barricade._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/xvii-mortuus-pater-filium-moriturum-expectat
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters