Les Misérables, Book 3: The House on Rue Plumet, Chapter 2 summary
Book 3: The House on Rue Plumet, Chapter 2 of 365 · 4 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 2, Jean Valjean gives Cosette comfortable rooms while choosing bare quarters for himself, and he maintains a secluded household through charity, careful routines, and concealed entrances. His National Guard service helps disguise his identity, but the closing remark questions his decision to leave the garden untended.
What happens
- Jean Valjean furnishes Cosette’s rooms lavishly but lives without heat in a sparsely furnished lodge.
- Cosette manages household expenses, while Jean Valjean takes her on quiet walks, to church, and to visit people in need.
- The census brings Jean Valjean into the National Guard, where his uniform helps him appear ordinary.
- He dresses respectably with Cosette but wears concealing work clothes when he goes out alone.
- The household uses only the Rue de Babylone entrance, and Jean Valjean leaves the garden neglected to discourage attention.
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In this chapter
What to notice
The sentence explains why Jean Valjean accepts public duties despite his secrecy. Looking ordinary helps him conceal his identity.
Quick check
Why does Jean Valjean willingly serve in the National Guard?
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