What have we wrought? Popular Culture, Adaptations and the Death of Canon (Part 2)
Part 1 is here
Les Miserables
The poor victimised creature in Les Mis is Cossette. For some strange reason, people "ship" Marius with Eponine; and milksop Cossette just gets in the way. I blame it on the music. Eponine simply gets the more memorable music and the more theatrically effective moments .
Eponine's solo is "On my own", a song that has taken on its own life and is now one of the most recognised and sung of show tunes. It has a sweet melody and a yearning, aching quality that translates well as straight pop music. It makes you symphathise with Eponine. It ends with a gentle fading of appregios, a perfect applause point.
Cossette on the other hand gets "In my life" (what's with these self-absorbed wenches? "On my own", "In my life", what next?). This is a rangy soprano showcase which is fiendishly difficult to sing but less memorable than "On my own". It is much more entrenched in the conventions of musical theatre and does not work as a standalone pop song. Worst of all, it does not even end properly, as it segues into "A Heart Full of Love". Whoever sings Cossette does not get her moment to bask in a soloist's ovation.
Even the duets with Marius musically favour Eponine. She sings "A Little Fall of Rain" with Marius. This is one of my favourite moments in the musical, a beautiful and quiet lullaby in the midst of all those soaring strings and stirring brass. It is an incredibly effective piece of theatre, her singing as she lies dying in his arms. She actually dies before the song ends, which is a coup de theatre on any terms.
Poor Cossette sings "A Heart Full of Love" with Marius, a song that I also adore for its artless lyricism and youthful ardour. It goes swimmingly, but then Eponine joins in and the duet becomes a trio and ends as a trio. Later in the musical, Cossette and Marius sing together on "Everyday" which transits into a reprise of "A Heart full of Love". Before Cossette can truly start enjoying her moment in the lights, Valjean has joined in and the song again ends as a trio. Cossette gets the short end of the straw again!
If people only knew Les Miserables through the musical, I can see how there are superficial arguments that Marius might have been happier with Eponine than with Cossette. VERY superficial arguments in my opinion, based on conclusions that are fallacies.
Fallacy # 1: Eponine loves Marius more than Cossette does
There is no doubt that Eponine is in love with Marius. She gets a whole song to make that point. Cossette only has part of a truncated duet and a few lines in an ensemble piece to communicate her love. She has less music and less memorable music but that does not mean that she loves Marius any less than Eponine does. During "One Day More", she sings that "I did not live until today. How will I live when we are parted?". I think that qualifies as love, just as much as "And all I see is him and me, forever and forever".
Fallacy #2: Marius loves Eponine and what he feels for Cossette is infatuation
Shippers who insist that Marius was in love with Eponine do not give full credit to Marius's feelings as expressed in his music and his characterisation. Yes, much of his music in his first meeting with Cossette is giddy and when he sings of her in "Red and Black", he is impetuous and impassioned. Compared to the subtlety of "A Little Fall of Rain", one might say this music suggests the flush of infatuation, rather than a strong love based on friendship (which is presumably what he feels for Eponine, sigh). One might say it, but one would be wrong.
To really get at Marius's feelings about these two women, one should look at ALL of his music, even that sung when neither women are on stage. And the only possible reading is that Marius loves Cossette romantically, and his love for Eponine is fraternal more than anything else.
But let's look at some of the specific claims:
Sub Fallacy #2.1: "A Little Fall of Rain" is proof that Marius loves Eponine
This is the trouble-making song, because Marius sings "You will live .... if I could heal your wounds with words of love".
That does sound pretty darn conclusive, doesn't it? Isn't this proof enough that he loves her? Well, yes, it is proof that he loves her, as he loves Enjolras and his ABC Cafe brothers. We have to look at this song in the context of what has gone on before. Earlier, he calls her "the friend who has brought me here". He regards her as a friend and grieves for her suffering, and later, her death. There is nothing in this song that suggests it is romantic love on his part.
Later, at his wedding, he tells the Thenardiers that "When I look at you, I think of Eponine. ... She is happier with God, I hope, than here on earth." His affection for Eponine is undeniable, but again, there is nothing here that even hints of romantic love. He is at his own wedding, for starters and his tone is one of fondness and not of regret.
Sub Fallacy #.2.2: Marius does not really love Cossette, he is just infatuated with her
And of course, he marries her only because his true love, Eponine had inconveniently gotten herself killed. The mind boggles.
Where the composers tripped themselves up was to play up the "love at first sight" angle. "Just one look and I knew ... I knew it too"and "She has burst like the music of angels ..." and all that really plays into the hands of the "infatuation" theorists.
It might have started as infatuation, but it certainly becomes much more by the time he is staring death in the face. Not long after Eponine's death (the very scene, mind you, where he supposedly realises he has been in love with Eponine all along), he sings, "Do I care if I should die now she goes across the sea? ... Life without Cossette means nothing at all...". Does this sound like a man who had just realised he had all along been in love with another woman?
After he has recovered from his battle wounds and sung his lament to his lost friends, he asks Valjean, "Is gratitude enough for giving me Cossette?". These are words from a man who had grown up overnight, watched his friends die and now lives with the guilt of having survived them. This is not a man who would be grateful for having an object of mere infatuation.
After the fall of the barricades, he refers to her as "my beloved Cossette" and "my love". I think the writer's intention is clear - he loves her. And because he loves her, he marries her.
Les Miserables in Canon
If we put aside the musical and consider the book, the entire shipping issue is completely moot. Eponine as portrayed in the book would never be considered a viable love interest for Marius. Victor Hugo never intended her to be and did not write her in a way that left any room for ambiguity. Eponine in the book is, to me, more interesting than the musical version but not a tragic romantic figure. She is a bit scary and has a stalkerish streak, if anything.
Cossette in the book is much more developed and her relationship with Marius is never less than convincing. Her innocence and kindness are recognised as virtues, and if she is less interesting than Eponine, we are never in doubt that she is a good person who deserves happiness. Marius's feelings for her are never in doubt. There is no love triangle with Eponine because Eponine is never in the picture as a romantic rival. Victor Hugo did not write that story. I wish the fans would stop trying to do it for him.
Next, Phantom of the Opera and the absurdity of Christine/Erik shipping.
Les Miserables
The poor victimised creature in Les Mis is Cossette. For some strange reason, people "ship" Marius with Eponine; and milksop Cossette just gets in the way. I blame it on the music. Eponine simply gets the more memorable music and the more theatrically effective moments .
Eponine's solo is "On my own", a song that has taken on its own life and is now one of the most recognised and sung of show tunes. It has a sweet melody and a yearning, aching quality that translates well as straight pop music. It makes you symphathise with Eponine. It ends with a gentle fading of appregios, a perfect applause point.
Cossette on the other hand gets "In my life" (what's with these self-absorbed wenches? "On my own", "In my life", what next?). This is a rangy soprano showcase which is fiendishly difficult to sing but less memorable than "On my own". It is much more entrenched in the conventions of musical theatre and does not work as a standalone pop song. Worst of all, it does not even end properly, as it segues into "A Heart Full of Love". Whoever sings Cossette does not get her moment to bask in a soloist's ovation.
Even the duets with Marius musically favour Eponine. She sings "A Little Fall of Rain" with Marius. This is one of my favourite moments in the musical, a beautiful and quiet lullaby in the midst of all those soaring strings and stirring brass. It is an incredibly effective piece of theatre, her singing as she lies dying in his arms. She actually dies before the song ends, which is a coup de theatre on any terms.
Poor Cossette sings "A Heart Full of Love" with Marius, a song that I also adore for its artless lyricism and youthful ardour. It goes swimmingly, but then Eponine joins in and the duet becomes a trio and ends as a trio. Later in the musical, Cossette and Marius sing together on "Everyday" which transits into a reprise of "A Heart full of Love". Before Cossette can truly start enjoying her moment in the lights, Valjean has joined in and the song again ends as a trio. Cossette gets the short end of the straw again!
If people only knew Les Miserables through the musical, I can see how there are superficial arguments that Marius might have been happier with Eponine than with Cossette. VERY superficial arguments in my opinion, based on conclusions that are fallacies.
Fallacy # 1: Eponine loves Marius more than Cossette does
There is no doubt that Eponine is in love with Marius. She gets a whole song to make that point. Cossette only has part of a truncated duet and a few lines in an ensemble piece to communicate her love. She has less music and less memorable music but that does not mean that she loves Marius any less than Eponine does. During "One Day More", she sings that "I did not live until today. How will I live when we are parted?". I think that qualifies as love, just as much as "And all I see is him and me, forever and forever".
Fallacy #2: Marius loves Eponine and what he feels for Cossette is infatuation
Shippers who insist that Marius was in love with Eponine do not give full credit to Marius's feelings as expressed in his music and his characterisation. Yes, much of his music in his first meeting with Cossette is giddy and when he sings of her in "Red and Black", he is impetuous and impassioned. Compared to the subtlety of "A Little Fall of Rain", one might say this music suggests the flush of infatuation, rather than a strong love based on friendship (which is presumably what he feels for Eponine, sigh). One might say it, but one would be wrong.
To really get at Marius's feelings about these two women, one should look at ALL of his music, even that sung when neither women are on stage. And the only possible reading is that Marius loves Cossette romantically, and his love for Eponine is fraternal more than anything else.
But let's look at some of the specific claims:
Sub Fallacy #2.1: "A Little Fall of Rain" is proof that Marius loves Eponine
This is the trouble-making song, because Marius sings "You will live .... if I could heal your wounds with words of love".
That does sound pretty darn conclusive, doesn't it? Isn't this proof enough that he loves her? Well, yes, it is proof that he loves her, as he loves Enjolras and his ABC Cafe brothers. We have to look at this song in the context of what has gone on before. Earlier, he calls her "the friend who has brought me here". He regards her as a friend and grieves for her suffering, and later, her death. There is nothing in this song that suggests it is romantic love on his part.
Later, at his wedding, he tells the Thenardiers that "When I look at you, I think of Eponine. ... She is happier with God, I hope, than here on earth." His affection for Eponine is undeniable, but again, there is nothing here that even hints of romantic love. He is at his own wedding, for starters and his tone is one of fondness and not of regret.
Sub Fallacy #.2.2: Marius does not really love Cossette, he is just infatuated with her
And of course, he marries her only because his true love, Eponine had inconveniently gotten herself killed. The mind boggles.
Where the composers tripped themselves up was to play up the "love at first sight" angle. "Just one look and I knew ... I knew it too"and "She has burst like the music of angels ..." and all that really plays into the hands of the "infatuation" theorists.
It might have started as infatuation, but it certainly becomes much more by the time he is staring death in the face. Not long after Eponine's death (the very scene, mind you, where he supposedly realises he has been in love with Eponine all along), he sings, "Do I care if I should die now she goes across the sea? ... Life without Cossette means nothing at all...". Does this sound like a man who had just realised he had all along been in love with another woman?
After he has recovered from his battle wounds and sung his lament to his lost friends, he asks Valjean, "Is gratitude enough for giving me Cossette?". These are words from a man who had grown up overnight, watched his friends die and now lives with the guilt of having survived them. This is not a man who would be grateful for having an object of mere infatuation.
After the fall of the barricades, he refers to her as "my beloved Cossette" and "my love". I think the writer's intention is clear - he loves her. And because he loves her, he marries her.
Les Miserables in Canon
If we put aside the musical and consider the book, the entire shipping issue is completely moot. Eponine as portrayed in the book would never be considered a viable love interest for Marius. Victor Hugo never intended her to be and did not write her in a way that left any room for ambiguity. Eponine in the book is, to me, more interesting than the musical version but not a tragic romantic figure. She is a bit scary and has a stalkerish streak, if anything.
Cossette in the book is much more developed and her relationship with Marius is never less than convincing. Her innocence and kindness are recognised as virtues, and if she is less interesting than Eponine, we are never in doubt that she is a good person who deserves happiness. Marius's feelings for her are never in doubt. There is no love triangle with Eponine because Eponine is never in the picture as a romantic rival. Victor Hugo did not write that story. I wish the fans would stop trying to do it for him.
Next, Phantom of the Opera and the absurdity of Christine/Erik shipping.
Labels: Fiction and Fandom
posted by gentleice the deptfordian at 8:22 PM
<< Home