#theory time

There is clearly a debatable amount of main characters, but since 2 might be considered the minimum, I theorized the book is split into two main stories with a main character for each. This theory is still on the table, and feels as though it is getting more likely to be true.

My guess was the thief as the first main character. I am pretty sure now that this is true.

Myriel will somehow be the lead-in to our first main character. If I'm correct about my previous theory being true (I guess technically I could still be wrong but eh I doubt it), then this theory is true.

More specifically, Myriel will save the thief, and that will be our lead there. This theory is true. I love you, Myriel.

The thief would be Marius' dad. I am 99% sure we won't get any reveal that Val and Georges at the same dude somehow because I'm pretty sure Val is someone else at present, so I'm gonna say this is false.

I guessed Marius might be or become a revolutionary. Still on the table but my hopes have thinned drastically. I have almost no faith in this kid.

I guessed Marius might have a girl in love with him - unrequited love specifically. I'm pretty sure it's implied the eldest Jondrette has a crush on him? Tentatively true. May she get over it swiftly. 🙏

That was to parallel my idea of the thief having a girl who loves him but it seems it won't work because of him being in trouble with the law. Technically, he could still have his own romance plot going on, so... This theory is still on the table. I hope it's false though.

My follow up theory to that had been that the thief and his lover, if he had one, would have a child who would be connected to the second half of the book. Again, technically still on the table.

There are, in total, two girls suffering unrequited love. Not sure how to categorize this one. Fantine was for a bit - does that count? And I think Jondrette girl is. That's technically two. I'll just say maybe.

Every volume has a "main character" of sorts, and the volume is named after them. This could possibly be disproven just by checking volume titles but I won't do that, so... Honestly I'm not even sure I'd count this is still on the table anyway 🤔 Fantine has played a big role so far but the main character of the volume feels more like Valjean... So I'll just say false.

This isn't really actually a new theory, I just suspected from the title alone and the general knowledge that the story is tragic that most characters, if not all the important ones, would be dead by the end. I will now piggyback off that to say I'm pretty darn sure all of the Amis (even Grantaire, despite his disinterest in the cause) will bite the dust. Hugo practically told us that himself. I will miss you, Bossuet. o7 < still on the table

Special theory just to say that Gillenormand will be dead by the end of the book simply because I want it to be true. I don't know at this point if it would really serve any narrative purpose - in fact, it would serve more of a purpose if Marius dies and he had to live with the fact that he pushed him away, but I don't want to read about his woes later. I'm manifesting over here. Let me manifest. < still on the table

Some theories I formed while reading since that last post that have been proven or disproven:

The mayor of M-something-M is Valjean. True

The police officer Marius spoke to is Javert. True

Uhhh there might be others, I'm not sure.

Newer theories still waiting to be proven or disproven:

Fantine will be dead before she sees Cosette again (hoping it's not true but it sure feels like we're on our way to it)

The Jondrette family is the Thénardiers (I'm almost positive this is true, but there's no official word on it yet)

Leblanc and Lanoire are Valjean and Cosette respectively (a bit less sure on this one but my suspicions are still very high)

Marius is gonna fumble this gun thing so bad somehow, I have almost no faith in him, like I said. He's gonna shoot someone he shouldn't or accidentally wind up giving the bad guys the weapons or give away his location and get himself in trouble or shoot himself in the foot or something

Going off the idea that Leblanc is Val, this whole trap set for him by the crooks will lead to Val and Javert crossing paths again, assuming Val is in hiding from the law?? I kinda doubt they've made amends. Don't got much hope for Javert to change his mind on that. But I could be wrong. Guess we'll see!

Also bouncing off those theories, I'm gonna gues we're gonna have some conflict between Cosette and Éponine, if those girls are who I theorize them to be

Would be kinda funny if Val just singlehandedly takes down all the criminals and Marius and Javert are just there like 🧍🧍‍♂️

Did I have any others? 🤔 I can't recall. Should probably start writing them down. I'm not gonna, but it would be wise if I did.

Now about the Knight. I have a lot of questions about them.

Why isn’t the Knight kidnapping off the street? Why can’t they just make fountains while the fun gang is in another dark fountain? They are going with the flow of the prophecy. Why? Because if the Nabla theory is true that means the cycle of the rune with continue if the prophecy is not completed.

Thus choosing new warriors over and over again.

Who ever this Knight is aware of that and actively trying to follow through on it. So there could be no next warrior at a great cost.

Additionally (and this purely speculative)

The last cage was possibly the next Knight

Isn’t it interesting that these prophecies are the only one’s with hands those same sharp.

Yes that is my only reasoning but it’s still, it never says that the cage is human, just that they have a human soul.