Understanding Eponine of Les Miserables

Her life was cold and dark, yet she was unafraid...

“And by the way, Monsieur Marius, I believe that I was a little bit in love with you.” – Eponine, Les Miserables

When it comes to unrequited love, the plight of Honey and Clover’s Yamada Ayumi  can’t hold a candle to the tragedy of Les Miserables’ Eponine.

From wikipedia: Éponine, knowing that Marius is trying to find “that girl” (Cosette), tells Marius that she knows where Cosette lives, hoping to impress him and make him happy. When she reminds him that he promised to give her something in return for finding Cosette, he offers her his last five-franc coin. Éponine sadly lets the coin fall to the ground, saying she does not want his money; Marius thinks little of it. Marius visits Cosette several times, and each time Éponine goes with him and waits outside the garden.

Éponine puts her hand, and her body, in front of the musket, and the musket ball enters her, saving Marius’ life. Marius does not think much of it, and it is not until later that he recognizes her, when she is lying at his feet. He cradles her and she begs him to comfort her. She reveals that Gavroche is her brother, and also says that she cannot lie to him, and gives him a letter that Cosette gave to her a day earlier for Marius. She asks that he kiss her on the forehead when she dies, and then with her dying breath, Éponine confesses her love for him, saying, “And then, do you know, Monsieur Marius, I believe I was a little in love with you.”

The Eponine I have come to love is a hybrid of the book Eponine and the musical Eponine. I love how they portrayed Eponine in the musical. She was strong of character and independent. Definitely a foil to Cosette’s innocent character. I don’t think there’s ever been a story of unrequited love more piercing than that of Eponine.

Her character effectively portrayed feelings of being unloved and it was so real.  Her selfishness (she made Marius promise her “anything” if she would show him where to find Cosette, but eventually lead him to her without asking for anything), her jealousy (she initially did not want to deliver Cosette’s message for Marius/Marius to Cosette but she did anyway), her fantasies (“on my own, pretending he’s beside me”) and frustration (“I love him, but only on my own”, “One more day with him not caring“, “He was never mine to lose”), her feelings of being ugly (Eponine aged by sorrows looked old for her age, and was missing a tooth. “You thought me ugly, didn’t you?” she told Marius on her deathbed), her spite and her sacrifice (she lead Marius to the barricade, so they may die together, but eventually caught a bullet for him) — all of these are feelings found in every soul who loves without being loved in return. This is true, regardless of whether you are rich or poor or bourgeoisie or whether you have abusive parents, perhaps even if you’re slightly crazy. This is how unrequited love feels.

She was always torn between giving in to her emotions, and choosing the happiness of the man she loved. But her love was strong, and she always chose the latter. Considering she isn’t supposed to have any kindness in her based on how she grew up and lived her life, considering how selfish and resentful she is, it’s amazing she still managed to choose love. Such strong feelings. I admire her.

Her ending was slightly happier in the musical compared to the book. In the book, she was in pain after getting shot, and she suffered so much as she spent the last of her breath trying to get close to Marius, to give him Cosette’s letter, and so she could die in his arms. She was so pitiful, especially since Marius thought nothing of her at all. At least in the musical, Marius gave her a bit of love (“If I could close your wounds with words of love…” ) and held her as she died.
Eponine is my hero. I cry manly tears at A little fall of rain. I wish I could be as strong as her, and against all odds still choose the happiness of the man I love. - The Joyce of Living