(Untitled)

[shenth]

Obsessively listening to the Paris Revival Cast recording has provoked some questions for anyone who has finished reading Les Mis in French (which I haven't quite managed). How do they refer to each other at the beginning, middle, and end? When Javert offers his resignation? When he attempts to arrest Valjean? How about right before his suicide? Do

Comments

[10littlebullets]

In the Paris production, Javert used 'vous' when addressing Valjean as the mayor (Fantine's arrest/runaway cart) and 'tu' at pretty much every other point.

I actually haven't reached gotten this far in La Brique yet, but I think there's a very definite point where Javert finds Valjean emerging from the sewers, realizes what he's done to save Marius' life, and uses 'vous' with him for the first time since he denounced himself.

[shenth]

And those would be the bits I don't have. Makes perfect sense how he reverts back to 'tu' during the confrontation.

They mention something in the English about how a new respect entered Javert's voice, and I always just assumed that was it. Must go check tomorrow if I have a minute.

[devils_child7]

I remember something very relevant to that in my copy of the novel (English translation, though); I think it was how Javert addressed Valjean with "vous" instead of "tu" after his release. I shall check for you. :)

[shenth]

Which translation do you have? I've read two, but they only mention respect, and not specifics.

[devils_child7]

The Lascelles Wraxall one, which I absolutely swear by. It's very, very rare, though, and I've never seen a copy anywhere besides in my local library.