What I love about les mis is how the same melodies appear multiple times throughout the musical it’s so clever and makes me cry
Les Miserables is, at it's very core, a love story.
Sure there's Cosette and Marius but there are so many more stories of love being told with theirs.
Jean Valjean loved his sister and her child so much, he risked his life and freedom to feed them. Then risked it again and again trying to get back to them.
The bishop Myriel loved humanity so much he gave up every penny he could for his people. He gave up his big house to use for hospital beds. He risked his safety to show Jean love. He gave him everything he could to show him the good in the world because Myriel had so much love and compassion for people. He didn't try to convince Jean to stay. He knew he needed his freedom to become a better man.
Fantine loved her child so much that she gave away pieces of herself (hair, teeth, comfort, safety) to keep her alive.
Jean turned his entire life into protecting Cosette when he couldn't save Fantine. That's love.
Even Thenardier's love of himself, fame, money, & power and Javerts love of the law count for something.
Gavroche cared for his younger brothers and for the Amis de l'abc. His died for them and for freedom and for his love of tomfoolery.
Eponine loved Marius enough to give him Cosette's letter, knowing that that piece of paper meant more to him than she did. She died protecting him. It's a tragic, one-sided, unhealthy love but it's still love.
And Grantaire??? He is described as a man who believed in nothing. He didn't believe in the revolution, he believed in Enjolras. He stumbled out of a drunken slumber to die hand-in-hand with Enjolras. He died for the revolution, he died for his friends, and he died for Enjolras.
All of the barricade boys did, really. They loved the future they could see for France. They loved hope. They loved the future generations. That's what revolution is. Loving a future that isn't yet visible and doing all that you can to care for and create that dream.
Les mis is a love story. From the ugliest, most rotten forms of love to the most pure and beautiful.
sensei-wus-beard
