Just
this event
the students are fighting FOR THE LAW, for the most basic provisions of the rule of law, and one of them DIES for it
and *expels students for caring*
(and wow I am not generally on the alert for Bahorel- Feuilly comparisons, but I am reminded of Feuilly's calling out the leaders who swore to join the rebellion and abandoned them-- where are the leaders and elders supposed to guide us OH THEY'RE THROWING US TO THE WOLVES THANK. And I think about how deep the teacher-student understanding has been in most college settings I've known, and WOW THAT IS SERIOUS BETRAYAL and just aksalhfsaklhfg the sheer callousness of telling people you are preparing to take a major role in society "oh but don't make a fuss" I AM GONE LEAVE ME HERE TO IMPLODE.)
and that explains SO MUCH about Bahorel's kind of weird student-position? Because he's got to KNOW, THEY DON'T WANT HIM THERE. He was there when the school VERY PUBLICLY repulsed students of his nature (that is, Actually Giving A Damn About The Spirit of the Law). He KNOWS he brings shame and consternation upon the law school, so OF COURSE HE STAYS, because ahahaha geez Bahorel you contrary monster. BUT AND ALSO- any diploma he gets there now is an approval and a license from traitors and hypocrites. It's WORSE than meaningless. It would be a sign he'd joined The Enemy.
So he stays, and aggravates the teachers, and meets more people like himself, and passes on the word. And I think we can pretty well be sure of that last bit...
BECAUSE ALSO, to move (somewhat) away from Bahorel-- HOLY HATS the difference this makes in Bossuet's oration on Blondeau. He's not just randomly doing a fellow-student a favor, though there is that, of course. For any radically-minded law student, the law professors are actually inimical, seriously dangerous and not to be trusted. There are real divides there. Look at the way he describes Hypothetical Marius, all in terms of maybe being a slacker-- but really, Possibly Someone Like Me (oh my gosh-- with my mistress?? Who's the abstract mistress for this crew? IS THE SPEECH REACHING THAT FAR AHEAD I NEVER KNOW ANYMORE WITH HUGO). And Blondeau is The Enemy, not in the usual Student-Teacher Argh His Assignment Ruined My Weekend way, but in a very serious He Would Sell Me To The Gendarmes For A Nod way, and one does not leave even potential comrades to the enemy.
and just
THIS IS A BIG THING OKAY I DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO PROCESS IT.
