 |
 |
| INTRODUCTION THE STORY THEIR SYNOPSIS MY SYNOPSIS THE CHARACTERS VICTOR HUGO FACT v. FICTION FACTS THE SHOW DISEASES RUE DE LA PERLE A PALAVER MEDIA WRITTEN FANFIC/FANART L'HOPITAL OTHER SITE BRING ME HOME |
| NAVIGATION ~ |
| FACT v. FICTION What, in the original story, did Victor Hugo make up? What was based on fact? |
 |
 |
| FACT v. FICTION |
| EPONINE Fiction: a gamine who falls in love with Marius Fact: In 69AD, a Gallic man named Sabinus revolted against the Romans, but the revolution failed, and Sabinus was sentences to death. He escaped the Romans and hid with two trsuted servants in the cave in France (then Gaul) for nine years. He spread the story, with the help of his wife, Eponine, that he had been killed in a fire. Eponine concealed him from the Romans at the risk of her own life, and served as a liaison between him and his fellow revolutionaries. In 79AD, Sabinus was found as Eponine was executed by Caesar for helping him. GAVROCHE Fiction: in 1832, a young boy aids Enjolras and the revolutionaries, but is shot and killed. Fact: in 1832, a boy of twelve fought in the front lines and was slain by a wound to his head. Furthermore, tehre is a painting by Delacroix circa 1830 entitled "Liberty Leading the People" (right). It pictures a young boy very similar in appearance to Gavroche. COSETTE Fiction: a young girl who is adored by her father. She was raised in a convent. Fact: Victor Hugo had a young daughter, Leopione, who was killed in a boating accident. Hugo's mistress, Juliette Drouet, was raised in a convent. MARIUS Fiction: a young man whose father fought for Napolean, a royalist in early life, in love with Cosette, who he would visit in secret. Fact: Victor Hugo's father fought for Napolean, and he, too, was a royalist in early life. He was in love with Adele, who he often visited in secret before they were married. THE BISHOP OF DIGNE Fiction: a kindly old Bishop who gives Valjean two silver candlesticks and lied to the police to save him.. Fact: the real Bishop of Digne, M. Miollis, gave a convict named Pierre Maruin some silver, and lied to the police to save him. FANTINE'S FIGHT WITH BAMATABOIS Fiction: the dandy Bamatabois shoves a handful of snow down the prostitute Fantine's dress, and they get in a fight. She is taken to the police precent and sentences to six months in prison, but Valjean testifies in her favor and she is released. Fact: Victor Hugo was walking home one night, and it was snowing heavily. He saw a well-dressed young man put a handful of snow down a prostitute's back, and she attacked him. Two police officers arrested the girl and brought her to the police precinct, where she was sentenced to six months in jail. But Hugo testified in her favor, and because of his recently won fame, the police believed him and the girl was released. VALJEAN'S ESCAPE FROM THE ORION Fiction: Valjean saves the life of a sailor on the prison galley he is on, the Orion. But running back to his chains, he slips and falls into the water. Everyone believes him drowned, but he was actually able to swim to freedom. Fact: This incident actually occured in Toulon. In real life, however, the convict was drowned. |
 |