I still remember my conversation with Anna last Friday on the way home from work at the MRT station.
Anna: Have you watch Les Misérables?
Me: Yes, the 10th Anniversary musical version!
Anna: So who's your favorite character?
Me: I like Eponine!
Anna: Why?! But she's a bad character you know!
Yes I know Eponine isn't a saint, and she's not exactly a protagonist, as is Jean Valjean, Marius and Cosette, or even Fantine. In fact she's can even be considered as an antagonist if you read the book (which I haven't, I took the short cut and wiki-ed the story). So hence here I correct myself - my favorite character is still Eponine, but Eponine in the 10th anniversary musical, not in the novel.
Eponine in the novel is portrayed as very self-centered, miserable and pathetic girl. She bullied Cosette when she was young, and when Cosette was taken away from her family, I think the feelings of animosity did not decrease. This was not mainly her fault though. It was her upbringing, the sneakiness and meanness of her father (and mother) led the children to grow up as they were. The adult Eponine met Marius, to impress him, she took a book and read it aloud so that he would give him some coins. Marius pitied the dirty ragged Eponine and gave her his last few coins. Eponine then developed a crush on Marius, but her feelings where never reciprocated when Marius and Cosette fell for each other the first time they met. Eponine later in the story wished to die together with Marius, hence she lured him to the barricade where an intensive gun-fighting ensued (it was somewhere during the French Revolution period). However, as a soldier pointed a gun at Marius, Eponine rushed to block it with her hand and her body - the bullet went through her, and in her last breath, she took out Cosette's letter (which at first she was reluctant to deliver), and told Marius that 'she was a little bit in love with him'.
There was no hint of meanness in Eponine in the musical (probably because they simplified the story a lot. Songs with Eponine in it just showed her un-reciprocated love, her protection of Cosette even from her own father because of the love of Marius, and her dying in the barricade for Marius who all the time regarded her as a friend. I love those songs, and I love the singing voice of Lea Salonga (from Philippines) who played Eponine's role in the musical.
Eponine's first appearance in the song "A Heart Full Of Love", sang with Marius and Cosette. Eponine's disappointment was a strong contrast to Marius and Cosette's state of bliss.
Eponine's solo: On My Own, which we played for CME performance. Marius sent her to deliver a letter to Cosette (without knowing that Eponine secretly loved him too), and she was walking alone on the streets on her way there, filled with loneliness.
This song is named 'One Day More'. Not exactly an Eponine song, it was about the mixed feelings of different individuals/ groups on the day before the 'barricade war' as I called it where the peasants/ people rise up against the French Authorities that oppressed them. Jean Valjean was thinking of running away as he was being tracked by Javert (the constable). Javert was thinking of his pursuit of Jean Valjean. Marius was torn between his love for Cosette and his loyalty towards his friends and their cause of the battle. Cosette was thinking about Marius. Eponine was pining about her love also, whereas her greedy parents were thinking how how they could loot from the war. Enjolaras (the most handsome guy) was leading the fight, and was very spirited about it. This is a brilliant song! It unifies ALL the different singing styles and thoughts of everyone else into a single song - and it portrays how each individual is so different, yet they sing in one tune.
And this is my all-time personal favorite (which I have put up here before) - A Little Fall of Rain, duet between Marius and Eponine before she dies. :)
Maybe I'll share more about other Les Miserable characters next time. I kind of like Jean Valjean a lot too.
