#1-2-12

1. Valjean stole the cutlery from the bishop, but wait! Bienvenu said he... gave them to him as a gift? And the candlesticks??? what a totally suprising twist probably to someone in the 19th century who's just started to read this book for the very first time and has no idea what a ride this'll be

2. I like to imagine what a shock this was to the first people who read this book. Like, what??? I'd be roaring right now... I'd be whatever the 19th century equivalent of tweeting in all caps was (probably just shouting out of my window)

3. HE GAVE HIM THE CANDLESTICKS!!!! HE GAVE EM TO HIM JUST LIKE THAT!!!!!!!! WERK IT MONSEIGNEUR!!!

4. Anyway, stuff I liked: Bienvenu is the most emotionally wise man that exists. He can read a room like nobody else. He understood right away what was happening when the gendarmes knocked on the door and he immediately went to Valjean with open arms asking him why he didn't take the candlesticks. Before anyone said anything. It's such a small detail but him saying that, before they even tell him Valjean claimed the silver was a gift is so important. He knew exactly what was about to happen.

5. Mandatory BBC les mis complaint: WHAT were they even doing in this scene? Honestly? I mean this in the most affectionate way... The bishop is so aggressive and the music swells and nothing makes sense and Valjeans roars I mean... it's so many wrong decisions in so little time... The whole thing felt so rushed it needed so much more work. More rehearsal and rythim and another round of editing but I guess they didn't have the time or smth.

6. I finally understood what the whole deal with the women is. VH wants the reader to understand that these women know Bienvenu does important work. They don't necessarily agree or immediately understand what he's doing at times but they allow him to do his work because they know how important his work is. No wonder the chapter is called The Bishop At Work. Myriel is hardcore.

HOWEVER I think it would be much better if instead of them being defenseless lambs who don't understand anything they were aware and actively chose this life, knowing how to read Myriel's intentions and generally were a team. Like how cool would it be if they were a team of people who made saving people's souls their mission. (They'd be on the same page, even tho the bishop is kinda the leader because he's the one who made a religious vow to do that, but they'd be a group. They'd know their way around any situation they'd trust each other and they'd play on each other's strenghs. It'd be swell.)