THE FACES OF NATURE – HUGO’S NOVEL LES MISÉRABLES

Abstract

Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables contains many descriptions of nature. They have a variety of functions. Descriptions of nature take the form of two topoi: locus amoenus end locus terribilis. Each of them has symbolic meaning. Hugo creates an image of an almost divine nature to contrast it with the image of dangerous nature. This contrast of nature becomes the principle of explaining the psychology of the characters. Nature is present in the form of extensive descriptions and brief references, which serve as a reference point for determining human nature, interpersonal relations, social relations, specific features of characters. The description of nature creates physical and emotional space, it can be opened or closed, it can enclose character in his own anxiety or open him to the world. Rare are moments when nature is indifferent to man. The technique of description is always the same – application of measures, which make that description more rhythmic, and reinforce induced impressions and repetitions, anaphors, parallelisms, enumerations, accumulations, epithets. Antithetical structures introduce an element of surprise in the series of descriptions, revealing antithetical nature of the world