Volume 4/ Books Ten to Fifteen: Summary

This section of the novel is set in June 1832. Paris is not only boiling with anti-monarchical revolutionary sentiment but also ravaged by a cholera epidemic. General Lamarque’s funeral has further undermined the monarchy, and there is extensive military presence in the city. The revolution reaches a tipping point when shots are fired from the Austerlitz Bridge. The National Guard is also summoned to deal with the insurrection.

Meanwhile, Gavroche helps the Friends of the ABC barricade a wine shop. Javert goes undercover to infiltrate the radical student group, but is promptly recognized by Gavroche and held hostage. When Le Cabuc, a drunk revolutionary, fires at and kills a porter, he is executed by Ejolras, the leader of the radical student group. Ejolras then gives a poignant speech about the nature of justice and death.

Lovelorn, Marius continues to wander through Paris with his two pistols. Though he is unsure about the causes advocated by the Friends of the ABC, he decides to join them at the barricade nonetheless. As he nears the barricade, he is terrified by the sight of the dead porter hanging perilously out of a window.

M. Mabeuf is killed when he tries to replace the felled revolutionary flag. Marius eventually joins the fighting and even saves Gavroche and Courfeyrac from being shot. He is almost killed by a rifle shot, until someone saves his life by getting in the bullet’s way. Marius then threatens to blow up a barricade, thereby forcing the soldiers to retreat.

When one of the insurgents, Jean Prouvaire, is shot dead by the soldiers, Enjolras plans to retaliate by killing Javert.

On his way back to the barricade, Marius notices a wounded young man crawling toward him. He soon recognizes the figure as Eponine. Marius also realizes that it was Eponine who’d saved him from the rifle shot. She also confesses to Marius that it was she who’d told him to join his friends at the barricade since she had wanted him to die. Nonetheless, she’d taken the bullet because she couldn’t stand the thought of Marius getting killed. She also tells him that she loves him and gives him a letter from Cosette. When Eponine succumbs to the bullet wound, Marius kisses her on her forehead.

The letter contains Cosette’s new, but temporary, address in Paris. It also informs him that she will be leaving for England in a week. Marius, however, is certain that he will soon be killed and writes her a parting letter. He asks Gavroche to deliver the letter to Cosette.

On July 4, 1832, Valjean leaves his house in Saint-Germain. Having received the warning note, Valjean is certain that he is being watched. He ignores Cosette’s protests and moves into his other apartment in Paris, which he believes is safer. Valjean is too distracted to notice that Cosette is distraught. He discovers Cosette’s letter to Marius and realizes that she is in love. As he finds himself envying Marius, he receives Marius’ letter from Gavroche. Valjean is initially thrilled by the prospect of Marius getting killed in the insurgency; however, he admonishes himself for having thought that way and puts on his National Guard uniform and leaves for the barricade.

Analysis: Volume 4/ Books Ten to Fifteen

Marius joins the revolution not out of belief in the position held by the Friends of the ABC but out of despair at having lost Cosette. He is prepared to die not for total democracy, but for being separated from Cosette. This renders his actions at the barricade ambiguous: are his actions the result of bravery or the result of his desire to die since he can no longer be with Cosette. Enjolras, the leader of the Friends of the ABC, on the other hand, is deeply committed to the revolution; he believes in total democracy and even rouses the insurgents with his actions and impassioned speeches. Though Enjolras kills Le Cabuc, he does so solely out of a sense of duty.

Although Eponine wasn’t entirely selfless in the way she loved Marius, she chooses to confess her intention to separate Cosette and Marius before her death. Much like the porter’s death, Eponine’s death is also deeply tragic, and both examples show that the revolution was not without problems. Despite the call for total democracy, the revolution was blighted by avoidable, unnecessary violence—from the insurgents and the armed forces.