Colleen Kadowaki
Molyneaux
English-B
8 May 2015
Star-Crossed Lovers
In
Hugo’s Les Miseables, the secret
relationship of Cosette and Marius is similar to that of Romeo and Juliet. Both
Romeo and Marius and “lost in love,” and are love-struck as soon as they see
Cosette and Juliet (267). It is love at first sight. Likewise, “Cosette had
fallen back into the profound seraphic love” just as Juliet had been blissfully
in love (266). Another comparison that can be made between the two couples is
that they are both fairly young and that is a result of the time that they live
in. Romeo and Juliet are star crossed
lovers from feuding families. Even though Marius’s family is not feuding with
Cosette’s, there is a sense of secrecy. They sneak around and it seems as if
their love is forbidden just as Romeo and Juliet’s is. It is clear that Jean is
not happy with this relationship as “Nature silently warned him of the presence
of Marius” and this causes him to shudder (255). Even though Cosette and Marius
think they are keeping their relationship from Jean, he knows and he “cordially
detest[s] this young man” (255). A way Marius can be compared to Romeo is how
he believe “that it is impossible that God should wish to separate [them]” and
he thinks that it is fate that they should be together (271). There are many
similarities between Cosette and Marius and Romeo and Juliet. Love is a strong
emotion that seems to have overtaken them and now their love is all that matters,
even if it means they have a secret relationship.
I really like how you compared Romeo and Juliet's love to Cosettes and Marius'. It is true that their "secret" relationships are extremely similar, and you really did a good job pointing out all the similarities. Like you said both relationships are kept a secret, but unlike Romeo and Juliet Jean Valjean sees Marius and Cosette's relationship start from the beginning even though they were trying to keep it a secret. Love can't and shouldn't be kept a secret because it is something to powerful to hide, and these two examples of love really show that.
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