A breath away from where you are I've come home from so far...
Ever since seeing Les Mis twice in the space of eight days, I've been consumed by it. Mostly by the incredible music but also by the characters, specifically Eponine. I understand that her representation in the musical is quite different to the book but, having never read Victor Hugo's tale, I can only comment on the former.
In a nutshell, I adore Eponine. Not only because she sings or is involved in almost all my favourite songs (A Heart Full of Love, One Day More, On My Own, A Little Fall of Rain), but because her character is so wonderfully rich and diverse.
Here is a woman who grew up with two of the nastiest, most horrible, vile, selfish, opportunistic people and yet somehow grows up to be a well-adjusted and decent human being.
We see her mother doting on her in childhood, so she could have been spoilt. We see her parents go from moderately successful business-people to living in the slums, so she could have been bitter. We see that her parents haven't changed at all over the years, so she could have been emotionally stunted.
Instead, she is vibrant, headstrong, and street-smart, with a solid idea of right and wrong - and more integrity than her parents put together. She stands up to her father and his friends when they attempt to break into Jean Valjean's abode and is rewarded with a backhand from the former.
Marius would have never reunited with Cosette had it not been for Eponine leading him (even despite her own feelings for him).
Eponine would have lived through the tale, had she not been so eager to return to Marius (at the barricade) with the news that she had delivered his missive to Cosette.
It is her death which galvanises the young men at the barricade into resolve and action (despite their demise).
Marius would have fallen at the barricade had it not been for Valjean, who would not have known about his feelings for Cosette, had it not been for Eponine.
I feel like she's meant to be this supporting character but her role is so crucial to the enduring storyline and ultimate ending.
Captivating, charming, and selfless, there are few musical characters who I love more than Eponine.
In a nutshell, I adore Eponine. Not only because she sings or is involved in almost all my favourite songs (A Heart Full of Love, One Day More, On My Own, A Little Fall of Rain), but because her character is so wonderfully rich and diverse.
Here is a woman who grew up with two of the nastiest, most horrible, vile, selfish, opportunistic people and yet somehow grows up to be a well-adjusted and decent human being.
We see her mother doting on her in childhood, so she could have been spoilt. We see her parents go from moderately successful business-people to living in the slums, so she could have been bitter. We see that her parents haven't changed at all over the years, so she could have been emotionally stunted.
Instead, she is vibrant, headstrong, and street-smart, with a solid idea of right and wrong - and more integrity than her parents put together. She stands up to her father and his friends when they attempt to break into Jean Valjean's abode and is rewarded with a backhand from the former.
Marius would have never reunited with Cosette had it not been for Eponine leading him (even despite her own feelings for him).
Eponine would have lived through the tale, had she not been so eager to return to Marius (at the barricade) with the news that she had delivered his missive to Cosette.
It is her death which galvanises the young men at the barricade into resolve and action (despite their demise).
Marius would have fallen at the barricade had it not been for Valjean, who would not have known about his feelings for Cosette, had it not been for Eponine.
I feel like she's meant to be this supporting character but her role is so crucial to the enduring storyline and ultimate ending.
Captivating, charming, and selfless, there are few musical characters who I love more than Eponine.
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