Ever since the creation of written language, humanity has been connected on profound levels with each other impossible by other means. However, the gap in between separate languages has also hampered this connection in the lost experiences of translations. Although the nature of language itself is universal, the differences between two languages often obstruct the reader's ability to fully comprehend a piece of literature. The translator's struggle to balance between poetic purposes and the intended meaning of the author often influences the reader's ability to fully comprehend translated texts. Similarly, in Victor Hugo's historical novel Les Misérables, much of Hugo's brilliant contemplations of the French language is often lost in English
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Although English is a language similar to that of French, the pleasure of perusing Hugo's puns often goes amiss in the translation. In fact, the very first chapter of the novel includes a homograph of the word “digne” both as a location for the Bishop of Digne and an adjective describing the his uncle as “un digne curé”, playing on the double meaning of the word “digne” in French (Hugo 8; vol.1). In other languages, however, this meaning is lost as “digne” translates into two separate words, in which the uncle is simply “a worthy priest” (Hugo, and Hapgood 7). Though minor, puns such as those mentioned above are prevalent throughout the novel creating not only enjoyment, but double meanings for certain key settings. Arguably, the most important pun in the book is the name of the student organization “Friends of the ABC”. The revolutionary students “declared themselves the Friends of the ABC,—the Abaissé,—the debased,—that is to say, the people” (Hugo, and Hapgood 1102). In French, the first three letters of the alphabet are homophones with the word “abaissé” therefore creating multiple layers within the organization’s name. Those who pronounce the letters A, B, and C, differently may not understand the reason as to why it is referred to as a pun later on in the paragraph, much less for those …show more content…
In most historical fictions, the context in which the literature was originally written significantly contributes to the overall understanding of the text. Such problem is not to be worried about in Les Misérables. As an intellectual author, Hugo not only includes compelling background stories even for minor characters, but also frequent accounts of culturally-significant French History that, in often times, don’t necessarily contribute to the plot. Ranging from a section of volume II dedicated to a narrative of the battle at Waterloo, to occasional detours of the French Revolution, to Hugo’s incredible knowledge of the Paris Sewers, Les Misérables encompasses much of the rich Parisian lives of the 19th century. Therefore, readers of Les Misérables fortunately share equivocal experiences of the French culture as a universal gift from Hugo despite coming from different backgrounds around the
Although English is a language similar to that of French, the pleasure of perusing Hugo's puns often goes amiss in the translation. In fact, the very first chapter of the novel includes a homograph of the word “digne” both as a location for the Bishop of Digne and an adjective describing the his uncle as “un digne curé”, playing on the double meaning of the word “digne” in French (Hugo 8; vol.1). In other languages, however, this meaning is lost as “digne” translates into two separate words, in which the uncle is simply “a worthy priest” (Hugo, and Hapgood 7). Though minor, puns such as those mentioned above are prevalent throughout the novel creating not only enjoyment, but double meanings for certain key settings. Arguably, the most important pun in the book is the name of the student organization “Friends of the ABC”. The revolutionary students “declared themselves the Friends of the ABC,—the Abaissé,—the debased,—that is to say, the people” (Hugo, and Hapgood 1102). In French, the first three letters of the alphabet are homophones with the word “abaissé” therefore creating multiple layers within the organization’s name. Those who pronounce the letters A, B, and C, differently may not understand the reason as to why it is referred to as a pun later on in the paragraph, much less for those …show more content…
In most historical fictions, the context in which the literature was originally written significantly contributes to the overall understanding of the text. Such problem is not to be worried about in Les Misérables. As an intellectual author, Hugo not only includes compelling background stories even for minor characters, but also frequent accounts of culturally-significant French History that, in often times, don’t necessarily contribute to the plot. Ranging from a section of volume II dedicated to a narrative of the battle at Waterloo, to occasional detours of the French Revolution, to Hugo’s incredible knowledge of the Paris Sewers, Les Misérables encompasses much of the rich Parisian lives of the 19th century. Therefore, readers of Les Misérables fortunately share equivocal experiences of the French culture as a universal gift from Hugo despite coming from different backgrounds around the