Swathi’s Reviews > Les Misérables > Status Update

Genius plot developments. Hugo messes with true/false accounts of reality in really clever ways. I always expected the climax of Les Mis to be the dramatic barricade but it really comes in these subtle conversational moments between supporting characters.

The one constant of Marius’ character is that he is deeply confused. I can’t say I find him very compelling but I appreciate Hugo’s attention, with both light critique and sympathy, to characters who are less strong/certain in their moral constitution as a Jean Valjean.

Time to finish this on the Amtrak.

Inspector Javert’s character arc is impeccable. The pages and pages of self-reflection are some of the best in the book.

Marius' prolonged moral confusion is interesting and departs from the typical stock of righteous/certain protagonists — definitely flattened in most of the adaptations of Les Mis I've seen. I really hope Hugo builds out Cosette's character more than "she was homely and now she is pretty."