Marius's Narcissistics

The characterization of Cosette and Eponine as foils in Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables advocates for the implementation of altruism by the rich to help the poor and less fortunate. These two character foils originate from similar backgrounds and beginnings – Hugo even has the two live together for several years – but the stories they later embody are incredibly divergent. This difference between them can be attributed to Jean Valjean’s benevolence when he, “seized the handle of the bucket which [Cosette] was carrying” as she went to fetch water for the Thenardiers. This simple act symbolically freed her from the burden of poverty, as the distressing labor she was doing was essentially involuntary – congruent to the situation poverty forces the

“Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” says the writer C.S lewis. Indeed this is evident in Sophocles’ Oedipus The King. The rather disturbing events that takes place during the play. The pride of Oedipus, the tragic hero of the play, sets off a chain reaction of events that could have been avoided if Oedipus kept his pride in check. However, he can not and his ego inflates to the point his persona can only be described as a mental disorder. Through analyzing Oedipus’ behaviour and his interactions with the other characters in the play, it can be concluded that he suffers from Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

In Edmond Rosten’s Cyrano De Bergerac minor characters are significant in highlighting elements of Cyrano’s character and Romantic conventions existent in the play. Characters such as Le Bret, Ragueneau, and the nuns each serve a specific role in highlighting Cyrano’s chivalry and characteristics, while providing perspective and context of his reputation in his society. Le Bret, Cyrano’s closest confidant, worries about Cyrano and the reckless actions he takes in pursuit of chivalry, loyalty, and courage. He attempts to keep Cyrano grounded, and reminds him of the limitations and rationale that Cyrano often ignores in attempt to embody a morally and intellectually superior man. Ragueneau and the nuns serve contrastingly different roles,

Cosette is abused while staying with the Thendardiers, and she needs someone to redeem her from her life in poverty. The Thénardiers treat Cosette as an object even though Fantine pays on behalf of Cosette. Before Fantine, Cosettes mother, dies; Jean Valjean promises to get Cosette. Jean Valjean pays for Cosette, and he does not realize that he redeems her from abuse, poverty, and suffering. Cosette goes with Jean Valjean, receiving redemption through him, because she could not have it on her own.

"It is precisely of him that I wished to speak. Dispose of me as you please; but help me first to carry him home. I only ask that of you." Upon examination of Les Miserables, it is clearly evident that the elements of Forgiveness, Self – Sacrifice, and Courage are only a few of the main themes Hugo wanted to develop.

Sacrifice is a prominent part of human living. In order to get what is needed or wanted, sacrifice is necessary, whether it is small or great. In the novel, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, he shows that in society, those with less must often sacrifice more. Hugo conveys sacrifice through the characters Fantine and Jean Valjean, by showing how they sacrifice in order to gain and also how their poverty makes their sacrifice even greater.

Similarly, another critic believes that the morals and peer pressure of a dauntless society are what causes Man to become evil. This evil slowly forces them to progress into “hardened ruffians” that are forced to resort to a pis aller in order to regain some hope for themselves. Thus, society cannot evolve (Lewes 245). Contrary to what Reeves believes, Critic Moss believes that misfortune is the sole cause of one’s faults and that the main theme of the novel is the barrier between “those who choose degradation and those who are driven to it” (228). Furthermore, the critic Napierkowski believes that the meaning of life is love and that through the love that all people receive, any number of traits can be changed. She explicates that change is extremely relevant in the case of Jean Valjean who is a convict turned upstanding citizen. She also recalls that in the novel Valjean is only transformed due to the love he receives from the Bishop of Digne, who gave Valjean everything that he had (Novels for Students). Reeves, again, also explores the concept that Hugo is trying to prove that humans need to love each other for the world to be a happier place (Masterplots). Thus, through evidence in Les Misérables, the aforementioned themes can easily be proven.

Jean Valjean sacrificed much as he sought redemption. One of the first sacrifices that Jean Valjean makes is that of his identity, during the Champmathieu affair. As Monsieur Madeleine, Jean Valjean was a trusted official in a high position. He struggled with himself when he heard that the ‘real’ Jean Valjean had been caught: should he stay in M—sur m—where he was comfortable and popular, or do the right thing, remove a man from an undeserved galley life, and become a convict once more. When Madeleine revealed himself as Jean Valjean, he forever gave up that comfortable position of authority. He became a convict again – a wanted convict. He would now live out the rest of his life hiding, of not running, from the police. Jean sacrificed his safety. Saving Marius’ life by carrying him through the sewers also proved to be a sacrifice. Jean’s entire existence revolved around Cosette. She was what kept him on the track the bishop set him on. He adored her. He was devastated to learn that she was in love with Marius, yet he saved

Cosette is deprived of the love that she desires and deserves. She longs for love and instead receives the opposite. The Thenardiers do not care for Cosette and do not view her as their child, to them she is a servant girl. When Jean Valjean offers to take Cosette away from the Thenardiers, they reply, “Ah monsieur! My good monsieur! Take her, keep her, take her away, carry her off, sugar her, stuff her, drink her, eat her, and be blessed by the holy Virgin and all the saints in paradise!” (154). The Thenardiers want Cosette out of their house, and no longer want the responsibility of taking care of the “imbecile child” (147). It is a blessing to them that this traveler has come to take Cosette away forever. Because of Jean Valjean's good deed, Cosette's life can improve and she can finally experience the emotion of love she longs for. Although Jean Valjean offers Cosette all the love he is capable of giving, it is not enough to satisfy Cosette. She craves for a different, romantic love after she is introduced to Marius. Hugo,

Hugo is saying that human nature is basically good. An example of this being proved is on page 362, “‘From what motive, indeed, does this convict come and say: I am a convict? Well yes! the motive is strange. It is from honor.’” When Marius married Cosette, Jean Valjean didn’t have to tell Marius the truth about who he was. He could have easily continued to let Marius believe he was Monsieur Fauchelevent, lived happily in Marius’ household without having to ever mutter the name Jean Valjean. But he knew it wouldn’t be right to do that so he couldn’t. Even though he had to give up the ideal life, Jean Valjean came clean about his past because that’s what he believed was the right thing to do. Telling the truth came with very harsh consequences and Jean Valjean did it willingly. No one was forcing him to tell Marius about his past, nobody suspected him of being anything less than Cosette’s father, everyone in the household respected and loved him. Jean Valjean didn’t want to deceive Marius and lie to him so he had

The construct of narcissism finds its origins in ancient Greece and Ovid’s Metamorphoses, with the proud and vain figure of Narcissus, cursed by the goddess, Nemesis, to fall in love with his own reflection. However, conceptualizations of pathological narcissism did not became a part of psychological theory until the late nineteenth century with Freud’s eminent essay: On Narcissism (Ronningstam, 2005). As Freud theorized on narcissism and, ironically, experimented with cocaine, the formal diagnosis of addiction was precipitously incorporated into the medical literature in response to increasing uncontrolled narcotic use and growing public health concern (Markel, 2012). Perhaps predictably, theorizing on the possible association between narcissism and addiction, particularly in the psychoanalytic tradition, has been addressed by theorists since. The term narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) was first introduced by Heinz Kohut in 1968, and saw inclusion in formal diagnostic literature in 1980 as a part of the significant revisions to personality disorders in the third edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM; American Psychiatric Association, 1980).

Everyone needs someone to love and care for as well as someone who can return that love and care. When Cosette comes into Valjean’s life, it makes him feel something he didn’t feel in a long time, “When he saw Cosette, when he had taken her, carried her away, and rescued her, he felt his heart move” (123). At this point, she becomes more than just a girl but another symbol in Valjean’s

Generally, authors compose books that go along with the morals of the audience. So many stories are written today with the typical love story, girl falls in love with guy or vice versa. Others are action packed with a climax and a predictable ending. Victor Hugo took a different stance while writing his book Les Miserables. Hugo's idea of action is presented through Jean Valjean who is held in prison for four years because he stole a loaf of bread. He includes unique love stories unlike the typical ones that we read about. Hugo's main purpose is to challenge people to consider their morals on forgiveness and love.

The first mistake Eponine made was helping Marius find Cosette. One of the best things you can do for your significant other would be just to bring them happiness. However, by helping him find Cosette, Eponine’s chances to be with Marius began to dwindle. While she successfully lightened his day, Eponine guided Marius away from what she truly wanted – to be loved by him. Furthermore, she even distanced herself from him to make Marius look better, saying “Let me go forward, and follow me like that, without seeming to. It won’t do for a fine young man, like you, to be seen with a woman like me” (Hugo 204). To prevent his appearance from being tainted, she told Marius to follow her from a distance – the opposite of what she actually wanted him to do.

In Les Miserables, Cosette, the daughter of Jean Valjean, has had a rough life. Her mother, Fantine, gave her to the Thenardiers because she couldn’t afford to take care of her. After Fantine dies, Jean Valjean comes to get Cosette and treat her like his own daughter because he was very fond of Fantine. Jean Valjean buys Cosette from the Thenardiers, and starts to show her the love and respect she deserves. Cosette easily bonds with Jean Valjean because he treats her unlike she has ever been treated. Cosette reminds Valjean of himself after jail, he wants to give her a new beginning and give her the best he can. Jean Valjean also told Cosette’s mother that