"Overcome with shame, even more than with dispair, she quitted the shop, and returned to her room. So her fault was known to everyone. She no longer felt strong enough to say a word."
Summary
Fantine was from a small town called Montreuil sur Mer (shortened as M. sur M.), its primary industry making English jet and German black glass trinkets. In 1815, three years before the return of Fantine, a moderately aged man arrived into the town, and had the idea of "...substituting...gum-lac for resin, and, for bracelets in particular, slides of sheet-iron simply laid together, for slides of soldered sheet iron." This innovation made the process exponentially more efficient and cost-effective, and created a miniature industrial revolution for the town. This man, named Father at first, and later Monsieur Madeleine, transformed the town from a bleak gray speck of dirt on the map to one of the most admired arrondisements in France. The town wanted to thank Father Madeleine for his kindness to everyone and his contribution to the town, but refused any promotions until they were forced on him; it was not long before he became the mayor of the town.
Fantine returns to M. sur M. in 1818, looking for work to feed her daughter, Cosette, who is with two inkeepers known as the Thénardiers in Montfermeil. Monsieur Madeleine maintained a policy of hiring anyone who had a good soul, so it was easy for Fantine to find a job there. However, her co-workers (who were all female) caught her writing letters to someone. And since humans are gluttonous in their curiosity, the women set forth all efforts to find out what was going on with the woman with beautiful golden locks. One woman found out she was sending money elsewhere to support a child born out of wedlock. Another woman managed a quick glance to the addressee of one of her letters: Monsieur, Monsieur Thénardier, inn-keeper at Montfermeil. The woman at the head of the operation judged every soul at the factory, and was named Madame Victurnien. She spent thirty-five francs to go to Montfermeil, and she returned saying, "I have seen the child." All this gossip and self-serving investigation took the span of one year.
In this year, Fantine had lost herself in joy: she forgot about the vanities, and reveled in the fact that she was able to live an ample life and pay for her sweet Cosette at the same time. She even paid for furniture through credit, and was happy that she was going to pay of all the debts she had accrued: she was paying for rent, the furniture, and although the Thénardiers had upped the monthly stipend from six to fifteen francs that month, she managed to pay that too, and all was well. One morning at the factory, the superintendent handed her fifty francs, told her she was no longer employed there, and, in the mayors name, told her to leave.
Fantine returns to M. sur M. in 1818, looking for work to feed her daughter, Cosette, who is with two inkeepers known as the Thénardiers in Montfermeil. Monsieur Madeleine maintained a policy of hiring anyone who had a good soul, so it was easy for Fantine to find a job there. However, her co-workers (who were all female) caught her writing letters to someone. And since humans are gluttonous in their curiosity, the women set forth all efforts to find out what was going on with the woman with beautiful golden locks. One woman found out she was sending money elsewhere to support a child born out of wedlock. Another woman managed a quick glance to the addressee of one of her letters: Monsieur, Monsieur Thénardier, inn-keeper at Montfermeil. The woman at the head of the operation judged every soul at the factory, and was named Madame Victurnien. She spent thirty-five francs to go to Montfermeil, and she returned saying, "I have seen the child." All this gossip and self-serving investigation took the span of one year.
In this year, Fantine had lost herself in joy: she forgot about the vanities, and reveled in the fact that she was able to live an ample life and pay for her sweet Cosette at the same time. She even paid for furniture through credit, and was happy that she was going to pay of all the debts she had accrued: she was paying for rent, the furniture, and although the Thénardiers had upped the monthly stipend from six to fifteen francs that month, she managed to pay that too, and all was well. One morning at the factory, the superintendent handed her fifty francs, told her she was no longer employed there, and, in the mayors name, told her to leave.
Analysis
Many in today's society remember the Industrial Revolution for its negative impact on the environment, but one must not forget the affect that it had on society. It created a hostile dog-eat-dog mindset that weaved out any possible weak link; and before labor laws came into effect, the unforgiving nature of unrestrained capitalism defined the workings of society. Although one had the capacity to excel to great heights, such as Monsieur Madeleine, one could very rarely achieve success through any amount of hard work in the early decades of the Industrial Revolution (see: The Jungle by Upton Sinclair), often because of extraneous reasons; such is the despair of poor Fantine.
Fantine worked as well and as hard as any woman worked at the factory in M. sur M, and worked for the same reason as many: to feed and clothe her family. However, her family lacked a husband yet had a child, making it an abomination, according to the overwhelmingly patriarchal and misogynistic society at the time. In addition, the curiosity of her co-workers drove them to further and further extremes to find the truth; but why? Victor Hugo underlines the gluttony of curiosity, saying that it is one of man's greatest vices. However the curiosity of the women at the factory did not appear from nowhere; indeed, it arose from their jealousy of Fantine, from mankind's inherent habit to find flaws in others. Fantine had hair that seemed to be woven from gold, and teeth that were carved from pearls; it was no wonder that the women, especially haggard old Madame Victurnien, sought to undermine her. In order to feel better about their own misfortunes and insecurities, the women used the power gained from their vapid curiosity to be rid of beautiful Fantine.
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Thanks for reading,
Nick
Fantine worked as well and as hard as any woman worked at the factory in M. sur M, and worked for the same reason as many: to feed and clothe her family. However, her family lacked a husband yet had a child, making it an abomination, according to the overwhelmingly patriarchal and misogynistic society at the time. In addition, the curiosity of her co-workers drove them to further and further extremes to find the truth; but why? Victor Hugo underlines the gluttony of curiosity, saying that it is one of man's greatest vices. However the curiosity of the women at the factory did not appear from nowhere; indeed, it arose from their jealousy of Fantine, from mankind's inherent habit to find flaws in others. Fantine had hair that seemed to be woven from gold, and teeth that were carved from pearls; it was no wonder that the women, especially haggard old Madame Victurnien, sought to undermine her. In order to feel better about their own misfortunes and insecurities, the women used the power gained from their vapid curiosity to be rid of beautiful Fantine.
<<< Previous (Valjean's Soliloquy) Next (I Dreamed a Dream) >>>
Thanks for reading,
Nick
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