II - Tokens of Appreciation series: 1/??? - Eponine

"She was barefooted and in rags, as on the day when she had so resolutely entered his chamber, only her rags were two months older now, the holes were larger, the tatters more sordid. It was the same harsh voice, the same brow dimmed and wrinkled with tan, the same free, wild, and vacillating glance. She had besides, more than formerly, in her face that indescribably terrified and lamentable something which sojourn in a prison adds to wretchedness.

She had bits of straw and hay in her hair, not like Ophelia through having gone mad from the contagion of Hamlet's madness, but because she had slept in the loft of some stable.

And in spite of it all, she was beautiful."

- Les Miserables, volume IV, book second, chapter fourth

As portrayed by Lea Salonga
(The musical's 10th Anniversary, 1995)

Each time I read this book, I feel like Hugo really wanted to create a strong and lovable female adolescent character his younger readers could identify with - but with Cosette, something went terribly wrong... And this is why Eponine was born. Then I remind myself that Hugo certainly wasn't this kind of a writer who would long for appreciation from teenage girls, still, I cannot get rid of this impression and it's always and always with me. As much as I hate Cosette with my whole heart, and whenever I see her entering the stage I go "take her off, please", Eponine won my affection at the very beginning.

The reason for why I chose her to open my TOA series is pretty simple. She is just one of the best characters of Les Miserables - one of my all time favourite books - as well as one of best female characters ever created. In my humble opinion, that is. But whatever you may think about her, I'm of the opinion she's a marvellous person others should be looking up to - but instead of love she truly deserved, she received pain and (not really intentional, but still) denial - so it's about time she gets some appreciation.

As portrayed by Sam Barks
(25th Anniversary, 2010)

Eponine, as a character, seems to be completely opposed to Cosette. This contrast was visible from the very moment of their first encounter, when Fantine left Cosette with the Thenardiers. In that time, it was Eponine who was in charge - she was the loved and almost spoiled one, and was getting everything Cosette only could dream about, even despite the family's status; they never were any well-situated, however, inside the house Eponine was the princess while her *cough* new sister *cough* was treated like a servant - something a child, especially such little, shouldn't ever experience.

Their roles have gotten reversed the day Jean Valjean took Cosette with him, as he had promised to Fantine. It was especially visible years later, when they were both adolescents. It's Cosette who was the princess then, happy in life and taken good care of - while the Thenardiers, like many others, were struggling with poverty. Eponine, however, in spite of it all, developed beautifully. She didn't give up on living, neither was she waiting for someone to take care of her; the words That's Eponine, she knows her way about, as she is sung about by Gavroche in the musical, sum her up very well.

I think Hugo, in process of creating Eponine, had perfectly balanced the heroine and the young girl in her. She had a lot of maturity in herself, as well as independence and strength of an adult woman; still, she was a dreamer hopelessly in love, and her actions were determined by the affection she had for Marius - thanks to this work of the author, she was not just another mademoiselle-in-distress of literature, however, the ways she acted became easy for women to relate to - because who of us hasn't ever had a crush so strong?

Her love for Marius was endless, and she was his loyal friend until the very end, even though he never returned her feelings. Some may say she was stupid. After all, she died doing her best to help him get another girl, who additionally was the very girl who was once in a situation even worse than Eponine's and suddenly, her life changed. That was hardest to deal with, I suppose. But you know what? I count it as a part of her awesomeness. Even when in pain, she did cherished what she had and was taking great care of it. Sure, she wanted way more than just Marius's friendship, still, it was her most valuable posession, and she really wanted him to be happy, whomever with. Which is beautiful.

And I'm certainly not the only who thinks so. The character that is Eponine is widely appreciated by Les Miserables fans, the musical's authors including - which is very well visible in the reward she received: her part in the song of Valjean's death, and the possibility of singing some of the most important words in the whole show: To love another person is to see the face of God.

...and before I end, let me share this absolutely fantastic token of love I found while seeking photos to add to this post:

 

I so want to meet the guy who wrote it.

Cheers!