Les Misérables, Victor Hugo, Fantine, Cosette, Thénardiers, Montfermeil, child abuse, poverty, motherly love, redemption, 1862, French literature, social injustice
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Abstract
Extract
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Abstract
Fantine visits Montfermeil to see Cosette after three years, only to find her mistreated by the Thénardiers. The emotional reunion and subsequent events are a turning point in their lives.
Extract
[...] The young girl also had difficulty recognizing her mother, whose sad life had also changed. It was like two miseries meeting, two beings who had devoted themselves to the most beautiful, the most absolute kind of love, that between a mother and her child, and that existence had tragically separated: - Don't you recognize me, dear Cosette? What are you doing all alone here? - Mother A smile suddenly illuminates the face of the little girl, like a clearing in the fog. - What's happening to you, my child? [...]
[...] Imagine the reunion with Cosette. instructions: - Write the story in the third person - Make the portrait of the little girl to show how much she has changed - Imagine the dialogue between the mother and the child, then between Fantine and the Thénardier. It had been three years already since poor Fantine had left her dear child with the Thénardiers, hoping they would take good care of this adorable little girl, who was as sweet as she was, with her blonde hair and blue eyes. [...]
[...] You think you're respectable individuals, but you're just abominable ones. I'll take my daughter back and give her a much better fate - Go to the devil, you and your Cosette You'll both end up on the streets and will never be welcome again. So Fantine took Cosette by the hand and they both fled from that hell. Fantine felt like she was taking control of her life and she felt ready to make all her efforts to offer the best for her daughter. [...]
[...] Do you at least give her enough to eat? - She has no appetite. We give her a good plate of leftovers, but she spurns it with that always sad face that would lower the morale of an entire troupe - You should understand that she misses me. I entrusted her to you thinking that you would treat her well. I'm willing for her to do some tasks in return, but she's just a child, not a slave. I know the poor treatment you reserve for her, it's unacceptable. [...]
[...] - My poor child, you're not going to stay with those tormentors. I thought you were being well treated by them, but that's not at all the case. I'm going to take you back with me, my dear child - Yes, mom (Her smile was wonderful at that moment, like a rainbow that came after the bad weather." The Thénardiers then arrived with their usually unpleasant air. Without even greeting her, the husband asked: - What have you come here to do without warning? [...]
