zinjanthropusboisei:My favorite part of Les Mis is when Valjean-as-M-Madeleine spends a near full pa
zinjanthropusboisei:My favorite part of Les Mis is when Valjean-as-M-Madeleine spends a near full page amiably lecturing the local farmers about how great nettles are, with a not-so-subtle side lesson on the evils of society. As a character moment, I’ve always been fond of this quote in its gentle ridiculousness, but it also quietly captures not only Valjean’s worldview but also the broad theme of the book, the vast potential that is snuffed out by the failures of an oppressive society that doesn’t just neglect the powerless and unfortunate, but actively rips them out by the roots. (This is followed immediately by the line “The children loved him especially because he knew how to make fascinating toys out of straw and coconuts.”) -- source link
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