Marius Les Mis Discussion Questions
“Marius”
1. Characterize M. Gillenormand. Why does Robinson spend so much time describing his physical appearance? How is this symbolic of his character and the time period?
M. Gillenormand seems very strongly conservative and anti-revolutionist. He seems to be one of the people who would have participated in the self-strengthening movement in China. His strong beliefs and opinions seem to consume him and make him seem a bit vain and egoistic. He ends up cutting ties with his son, son-in-law and his grandson because they were all revolutionists. They spend a lot of time describing his physical appearance to stereotype the richer upper class and also to contrast from the past characters who have all been lower class and some even in poverty going to all extremes for money (Fantine). M. Gillenormand was very old yet lively. He was not your common old man; even more so, he was like a jaguar.
2. How does the relationship between M. Gillenormand and George Pontmercy reflect the time period of “post-” Revolutionary France?
The relationship between M. Gillenormand and George Pontmercy harps on the hostility that was present between the liberals and the conservatives in "post-" Revolutionary France. Their distaste in each other shows us how strongly people believed in their opinion back then that even a blood bond stands as no exception. Since M. Gillenormand is strongly conservative, he has major conflicts with those who disagree with his opinion. "The colonel was to him "a bandit," and he was to the colonel "a blockhead." M. Gillenormand never spoke of the colonel, unless sometimes to make mocking allusions to "his barony" (Hugo 351). This quote illustrates the extremity of M. Gillenormand’s opinions. Pontmercy was a colonel in battle and it is his decision whether or not he supports Napoleon or not.
3. Characterize Marius throughout this section. What do you think of his decision to walk out on his Grandfather and refuse the money he is offered every
1. Characterize M. Gillenormand. Why does Robinson spend so much time describing his physical appearance? How is this symbolic of his character and the time period?
M. Gillenormand seems very strongly conservative and anti-revolutionist. He seems to be one of the people who would have participated in the self-strengthening movement in China. His strong beliefs and opinions seem to consume him and make him seem a bit vain and egoistic. He ends up cutting ties with his son, son-in-law and his grandson because they were all revolutionists. They spend a lot of time describing his physical appearance to stereotype the richer upper class and also to contrast from the past characters who have all been lower class and some even in poverty going to all extremes for money (Fantine). M. Gillenormand was very old yet lively. He was not your common old man; even more so, he was like a jaguar.
2. How does the relationship between M. Gillenormand and George Pontmercy reflect the time period of “post-” Revolutionary France?
The relationship between M. Gillenormand and George Pontmercy harps on the hostility that was present between the liberals and the conservatives in "post-" Revolutionary France. Their distaste in each other shows us how strongly people believed in their opinion back then that even a blood bond stands as no exception. Since M. Gillenormand is strongly conservative, he has major conflicts with those who disagree with his opinion. "The colonel was to him "a bandit," and he was to the colonel "a blockhead." M. Gillenormand never spoke of the colonel, unless sometimes to make mocking allusions to "his barony" (Hugo 351). This quote illustrates the extremity of M. Gillenormand’s opinions. Pontmercy was a colonel in battle and it is his decision whether or not he supports Napoleon or not.
3. Characterize Marius throughout this section. What do you think of his decision to walk out on his Grandfather and refuse the money he is offered every