Cosette
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Cosette is a fictional character in the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.
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[edit] Early life
Euphrasie, nicknamed Cosette by her mother, is the illegitimate daughter of Fantine and Felix Tholomyès. After Tholomyès abandons Fantine, Fantine leaves Cosette with the Thénardiers at their inn in Montfermeil, paying them to care for her child while she goes to work in the city of Montreuil-sur-Mer. Unbeknownst to Fantine, the Thénardiers mistreat Cosette, forcing her to do chores around the inn. Éponine and Azelma Thénardier, the Thénardiers daughters, tease and mistreat Cosette as well.
From the hospital she has been placed in, Fantine sends Jean Valjean, the mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer, to retrieve Cosette. Fantine dies before Cosette can be brought to her, but Jean Valjean becomes determined to look after her. When he arrives in Montfermeil, he finds Cosette fetching a pail of water for the Thénardiers. Appalled by this treatment, he pays all of Fantine's debts to the Thénardiers and leaves with Cosette. M. Thénardier later regrets not having demanded more money, but finds himself unable to swindle any more out of Valjean.
Valjean takes Cosette directly to Paris and begins giving her a basic education. When Inspector Javert discovers Valjean's whereabouts, Valjean is forced to flee. He finds himself in the Petit-Picpus convent. The gardener, Fauchelevent, was once rescued by Valjean in Montreuil-sur-Mer, and is eager to help him. Valjean poses as Fauchelevent's brother, assuming that name for Cosette and himself, and the two live peacefully in the convent for many years. Valjean works with Fauchelevent while Cosette is educated. As Cosette grows up, she appears to have no recollection of her childhood before arriving at the convent.
In a later chapter, Cosette does eventually have a recollection of her childhood. Cosette remembers praying for the mother she never knew, the Thénardiers as two ugly creatures, and fetching the water for the Thénardiers somewhere "very far from Paris". In the same chapter, she asks Valjean about her mother, but he does not answer her question. When Cosette has a dream about her mother as an angel, she remarks that her mother must have been a saint before. Valjean answers this by simply stating, "through martyrdom."
[edit] Relationship with Marius Pontmercy
Cosette’s adult life centres on a young man by the name of Marius Pontmercy. Their first meeting is in the Luxemburg Gardens where both are unaware of each other until their eyes meet. Both Marius and Cosette fall in love with each other at that moment and begin to constantly think of each other. When Valjean takes notice of Marius’ affections, he sees Marius as a coward for not confronting Valjean and seeking approval to court his "daughter". He also fears losing Cosette, (who has become the source of his happiness), to Marius. Valjean then takes Cosette away from the Luxemburg Gardens.
Marius is able to meet Cosette again through Éponine. Éponine takes Marius to Cosette’s new address in order to see Marius happy. Marius idly watches Cosette before approaching her for a few nights. When Cosette and Marius finally meet again, both of them confess that they love each other. They continue to meet each other from that point on. After robbery by Thénardier at Valjean and Cosette’s home, Valjean believes that Javert is on his trail. He decides that he and Cosette will move to England. This devastates Cosette and Marius, because it will be the end of their relationship.
Marius writes a farewell letter to Cosette, and is led to the barricades by Éponine, in hope that they will die together. While dying, Éponine reveals this to Marius and gives him Cosette’s letter before she dies. Valjean reads Marius’ farewell letter and decides to follow Marius to the barricades. After the battle is over, he takes Marius unconscious body through the sewers. After a confrontation with Javert, Valjean finally manages to get Marius through the sewers alive. He returns Marius to his beloved Cosette, and she watches over him until he recovers from his injuries.
The two decide to marry each other, but Marius learns of Valjean’s criminal history. This leads him to believe Valjean is dangerous, and asks him to leave him and Cosette. When finding out through Thénardier that Valjean had saved him, Marius with Cosette goes to Valjean on his deathbed. Valjean then shares the last minutes of his life with Marius and Cosette.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- "Les Misérables by Victor Hugo." Les Misérables.
- "Les Misérables." 11 November 2006 Les Misérables
[edit] Footnotes
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