Okay. This post may be very long and rant-y, (and watch out for spoilers) so, if you are curious to hear what I have to say on the topic of "My Ideal Eponine," I suggest you get comfortable with some limeade and a pudding cup or two or three or eighty-seven.
Alright. Deep breath. Aaaannnnnddd.
For those of you who don't know, I am currently reading Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. As of today, I am currently on Book Eighth of Volume III: Marius, after completing the prior two Volumes (Volume II was awful, just saying). The past few chapters have rather excited me because Eponine has now been introduced (the older Eponine, not the bratty, spoiled little one who was introduced way back in Volume I). Reading about her, as she enters Marius' apartment, sent by her father to ask for money, as she shows off to Marius that she can read and write, and as she states how handsome she believes him to be, triggered this question for me:
What, taking both the book and musical into account, do I expect in my ideal Eponine?
And here we go.
I feel I can make my point by looking at the much-loved Eponine solo "On My Own." "On my own, pretending he's beside me/all alone I walk with him till morning," etc., etc. I ask myself (and perhaps you might ask yourself this, too) What is Eponine feeling at this moment? For many, it is sadness. For some, it is frusturation, For me? Bitterness.
I've never thought of Eponine as one to pity herself. Rather, I feel she would feel bitterness and resentment towards herself, her parents, and even Marius.
Well why Marius? Doesn't she love him?
Of course. But at this point in her life, Eponine is confused. She is feeling this unbearable pain at Marius' love for Cosette, which makes her resent Marius. Why is he doing this to her? Eponine pushes her feelings of love aside until (SPOILER ALERT) her death, when she takes a bullet for him by putting her hand in front of a gun aimed at Marius.
A part of "On My Own" around the climax of the song says, "Without me his world will go on turning/A world that's full of happiness that I have never know". There are a good deal of people who enjoy this sung through a face full of tears. That's okay. But personally, I believe that Eponine is stronger than that and should sing those words like they're poisonous.. She's gone through life trying to keep her head up while she's stuck in almost literally Hell (pardon). "Her name was Eponine/Her life was cold and dark yet she was unafraid", anyone? I feel like Eponine's big question in "On My Own" is pretty much "What is wrong with Marius? Why do I feel this way?" but most of all "What is happening?" She's confused. Bitter. Resentful. And that is my ideal Eponine.
First of all...your pen name is Hermione Thernadier. I just find that interesting.
ReplyDeleteWell, I never really thought about my ideal Eponine, but your ideas make a lot of sense.
I would resent Marius if I were her.
I would TOTALLY resent Marius! I mean, here you are, and you're really nice (I think, I haven't actually read the book but Eponine looked nice in the movie and musical xP) and you love Marius and he suddenly goes off and falls in love with some random other girl that just showed up--in one night, in a garden, no less!
Ahem.
That didn't make much sense.
Though I'm sure Eponine would also be quite sad, along with being bitter and perhaps frustrated as well.
Yeah, I just changed it :).
DeleteI know! Grr, Marius can just be so annoying sometimes. And all along Eponine is helping him to find this girl who he believes he is so madly in love with. And the sad part, Eponine is pushing him towards another girl because she loves him and wants him to see all he's done for her.