Struggle For Love In Les Miserables

The Love Triangle of the French Revolution In Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables, the book and the movie adaptation, a struggle for love exists between three characters. Two women pursue Marius Pontmercy throughout the story: Eponine and Cosette. Whereas Eponine and Marius seem to know each other well in the movie, Cosette and Marius believe they’re in love after simply looking at one another. Marius is presented with a choice, and he picks Cosette. However, Marius should have decided to pursue a relationship with Eponine rather than Cosette because his interactions with Eponine were more meaningful. Through their brief encounters, it is clear Marius and Cosette didn’t know each other well enough to declare love. The first time Marius believes he loves Cosette is when they look at each other for the first time. “She looked at him steadily, with a sweet and thoughtful look …show more content…
She first sacrificially assists Marius when she helps him find Cosette’s home and leads him there. She prioritizes his desires over hers, saying, “I am not sure of the street and the number; it is away on the other side from here, but I know the house very well. I will show you” (Hugo 204). Although she desperately wants him to love her, she helps him find the woman he wants to love. Secondly, Eponine’s love goes so far as losing her life for Marius. When he sees her dying, he wants to heal her. However, she insists, “The ball passed through my hand, but it went out through my back. It is useless to take me from here. I will tell you how you can care for me, better than a surgeon. Sit down by me on that stone” (Hugo 243). It is obvious through Eponine’s actions that she loves Marius more than Cosette does, whose affection is based off a look. One does not sacrifice their life and death for another without true love. If Marius opened his eyes and mind, he would have realized Eponine cared for him much more than