Unveiling the Enigma: Insights into 'The Restoration of Authority' excerpt from 'Les Misérables' by V. Hugo

Phang Tin finds himself incarcerated by Gavé, and it's the intervention of Jiang Van-giang that ensures her escape and transfer to the hospital. While diligently aiding Phang Tin, Jiang Van-giang decides to confess in court, driven by the desire to rescue an innocent victim wrongly accused by Gavé. The narrative recounts the tense situation as Gavé leads his troops to apprehend Jiang Van-giang during his visit to Phang Tin at the hospital. Phang Tin, gripped by fear, anticipates Gavé's arrival to arrest him. To sustain Phang Tin's hope, Jiang Van-giang humbles himself, pleading with Gavé for three days to locate his sister. Despite Gavé's ruthless declaration of Jiang Van-giang as an escaped convict, he remains determined to capture him. Confronted by Gavé's cruelty, Phang Tin despairs and takes his last breath. Repulsed by Gavé's heartlessness, Jiang Van-giang restores authority, instilling fear in Gavé. Jiang Van-giang approaches Phang Tin, shares final words with her, then stands up, facing Gavé, declaring, 'Now, I belong to you.'

Victor Hugo, a French literary prodigy, stands as a global cultural icon, deeply connected with the plight of humanity, tirelessly advocating for human progress. His life is a profound narrative, and the works he left behind have significantly influenced mankind at large and, specifically, the nation of France. Among these, 'Les Misérables,' born in 1862, vividly captures the landscape of 19th-century France and Paris, revolving around the character Jean Van Jiang. The excerpt 'The Restoration of Authority' lies at the end of the first part, studied in the 11th-grade curriculum, narrating the arrest of Mayor Madole (Jean Van Jiang) by Gavé. Below is a concise summary of the excerpt for your reference and to enhance your understanding of the work.

Phang Tin, a woman, is captured and held by Gavé, and thanks to Madole's intervention, she is taken to the hospital for treatment. While rescuing Phang Tin, Madole contemplates and decides to confess in court to save a victim falsely accused by Gavé. Because of this, Madole visits the hospital to bid farewell to Phang Tin. Unfortunately, Gavé monitors and approaches the hospital to observe Madole. Seeing Gavé's arrival, Phang Tin, thinking he's there to arrest her, becomes terrified. Madole pleads with Gavé for time to find Phang Tin's daughter, but not only does Gavé refuse, he also utters harsh and degrading words. Hearing those vulgar words, Phang Tin, already in critical condition, breathes her last. Shocked by the sudden death, Madole grabs Gavé by the collar, armed with an old iron bedpost. Gavé, terrified, retreats, wanting to call for reinforcements but fearing Madole might escape. Madole approaches Gavé, saying, 'Now, I belong to you.'

Phang-tin lies on the hospital bed. Gavé appears. At the sight of his gruesome face, she recoils, covering her face in horror and pleads, 'Oh, Mayor Madole, save me!' Jean Van-giang reassures Phang-tin, 'Rest assured. He's not here to arrest you.'

Gavé urges Jean Van-giang, 'Hurry up!' His voice no longer sounds human, more like a growling beast. He stands still and speaks. His eyes resemble iron hooks. Gavé advances into the room and shouts, 'Are you coming or not?' Phang-tin shudders. A strange sensation pierces her eyes: Gavé grabs Mayor's collar. Phang-tin cries out, 'Mayor, help!' Gavé bursts into laughter, a terrifying laughter exposing all his teeth. Gavé reminds Jean Van-giang to address him as the inspector and insists that if he has something to say, he should say it loudly. Jean Van-giang asks for three days to find Phang-tin's daughter, but Gavé scoffs, 'Well, well! I didn't expect you to be so foolish!' Hearing Phang-tin's cry, 'My child. Find my child!...', Gavé roughly grabs Jean Van-giang's collar and scarf, then speaks loudly, 'I told you there's no Mayor Madole, no mayor at all. There's only a thief, a robber, a convict named Jean Van-giang! I've caught him!' Phang-tin looks at Jean Van-giang, then at Gavé, then at the nun, utters a moan, mouth agape, eyes wide, lifeless.

Jean Van-giang wrests himself from Gavé's grip, grabs a broken old iron bedpost, and menacingly holds it. Gavé, terrified, steps back, wanting to call for reinforcements but fearing Jean Van-giang might escape. Jean Van-giang approaches Gavé, saying, 'Now, I belong to you.'

Gavé apprehends Phang-tin. Jean Van-giang aids Phang-tin, taking her to the hospital. Later, he confesses in court to reveal his true identity and save a victim wrongly accused by Gavé. Jean Van-giang visits the hospital to bid farewell to Phang-tin. However, Gavé, who has been monitoring Jean Van-giang, follows him to the hospital and exposes Jean Van-giang's true identity, uttering degrading words to Phang-tin. Desperate, Phang-tin breathes her last on the hospital bed. Startled by Phang-tin's sudden departure, Jean Van-giang holds a broken bedpost, looking at Gavé, who is now fearful. Jean Van-giang shares final words with Phang-tin, then approaches Gavé, stating, 'Now, I belong to you.'

To save a victim falsely accused by Gavé, Jean Van-giang is forced to confess his true identity. Therefore, he must bid farewell to Phang-tin before she knows the cruel truth. The excerpt narrates the situation where Gavé leads his soldiers to arrest Jean Van-giang when he visits Phang-tin while she is in distress. Initially, Jean Van-giang has not completely lost the authority of a mayor. To avoid extinguishing Phang–tin's hope, he must humble himself before Gavé. However, Gavé remains ruthless, declaring that Jean Van-giang is merely a convict who escaped prison, and he will apprehend him. Phang-tin breathes her last in despair. Outraged by Gavé's cruelty, Jean Van-giang restores authority, making Gavé tremble with fear and fulfill his final duties towards Phang-tin.

Jean Van-giang, a poor laborer, broke a glass cabinet to steal a loaf of bread to feed his child, leading to 19 years of wrongful imprisonment. After his release, he transformed into a benevolent figure under the guidance of Reverend Mirien. He changed his name to Madeleine, established a factory, became wealthy, and assumed the role of mayor. However, he was always suspected and surveilled by the undercover inspector Gavé. Upon first meeting Phang-tin, he helped and rescued her from Gavé's clutches. When Phang-tin passed away, he reverted to his true identity, returned to prison, and later escaped. Jean Van-giang kept his promise to find and redeem Cosette, bringing her to live hidden in Paris for several years. A popular uprising in Paris against the bourgeois government occurred in June 1832. Jean Van-giang was present at the barricades and saved Marius (Cosette's lover). He nurtured their love and ultimately died in solitude.

The presented work is an expansive canvas aiming to depict the lives of impoverished laborers in 19th-century colonial France. Under the skilled pen of the author, these socially oppressed individuals emerge with various beauties in soul and form. Through the talented writing focused on social issues, the characters suppressed by society reveal profound inner beauty. The author employs the familiar contrast method in his style and romanticism to highlight their qualities. 'Les Misérables' serves as an epic ode praising the common people, a stern indictment of the unjust and inhumane bourgeois society with its intricate network of laws, courts, prisons, soldiers, police, the affluent, and the rogues. This bourgeois society is the seed and cause of countless severe and painful incidents within the population. The work subtly emphasizes genuine love existing only in the hearts of the destitute. Victor Hugo contemplates means to bring happiness to the impoverished. The work speaks of courageous individuals standing under the support and guidance of the Democratic Party, becoming stronger and more determined, knowing what they must do. It embodies the shared ideal of the entire nation. The ideas, to some extent, can be summarized in the words of Victor Hugo, the classic author in 'The Restoration of Authority': 'When the law and civilization alike oppress humanity, creating deep-seated hells within invisible civilized society, imposing an artificial fate upon the natural fate; when the three major issues of the era converge in one place, revealing the human degradation due to forced labor and the degradation of women for meager sustenance, the deprivation of children due to ignorance still unresolved; when life is stifled in some places.'