Les Misérables, Book 8: The Twilight Fades, Chapter 4 summary
Book 8: The Twilight Fades, Chapter 4 of 365 · 3 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 4, an unnamed old man repeatedly walks toward the Rue des Filles-du-Calvaire, where he stops, looks down the street, and weeps before returning home. As spring passes into summer, his journeys grow shorter, his expression loses its brightness, and neighborhood women and children misunderstand or mock his distress.
What happens
- Near nightfall each day, an old man dressed in black follows the same route toward the Rue des Filles-du-Calvaire.
- His eyes brighten as he approaches, but his steps slow as though he both desires and fears arrival.
- At the corner, he looks down the street, sheds a tear, and returns along the same route.
- Over time, he turns back at increasingly distant points and no longer reaches the Rue Saint-Louis.
- His eyes become dull and dry, while neighborhood women call him a simpleton and children follow him laughing.
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What to notice
The comparison brings together his shortening walks and dwindling energy. It makes his repeated movement a visible measure of decline.
Quick check
What happens to the old man's daily walks?
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