Selected Essays of Hugo

Author: (French) Victor Hugo (Hugo, V.) wrote, translated by Zheng Kelu
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2007-01-01
Features: Victor Hugo (1802—1885) was not only a world-renowned poet, novelist, dramatist, and theorist but also a prose writer with outstanding literary talent. In terms of prose alone, he had over three million words of works, including political essays, travelogues, diaries, speeches, eulogies, memoirs, commemorative articles, and miscellaneous writings, all diverse and rich in variety, leaving one awestruck. Although this selection is not lengthy, it can be said to encompass the essence of Hugo's prose,. From the content perspective, Hugo's prose is profound and extensive, covering a wide range of topics. As is well-known, Hugo was an indomitable fighter. He was a sworn enemy of the reactionary Napoleon III. After Napoleon III's coup in 1851, Hugo was forced into exile and first wandered to Belgium, finally settling on a small island in the English Channel, where he spent nineteen years in exile. During this period, Hugo remained steadfast and refused to bow to Napoleon III, documenting his own experiences of fleeing and what he witnessed during Napoleon III's coup as a spear and dagger aimed at Napoleon III. The satirical prose collection Les Petits Césars was thus born. From The Humiliation of the Master and the Misery of the Situation and The Portrait of Napoleon III, one can see how Hugo truly despised this tyrant, mercilessly comparing him to historical autocrats and branding him on the pillar of historical disgrace. Napoleon III's ignominious downfall later served as proof of Hugo's judgment. In 1870, Napoleon III was defeated in the Battle of Sedan and became a prisoner of the German army, playing the role of a national traitor. Hugo reviewed Napoleon III's disgraceful history and wrote the political essay The Genesis of a Crime, settling accounts with Napoleon III's evil deeds. As the voice of justice and a victim of persecution, Hugo's condemnation was righteous and fully expressed his high ideals of democracy and patriotism. These two essays can be read alongside his satirical poetry collection Les Chatiments. Hugo's patriotism was particularly evident during the Franco-Prussian War. During this period, his prose expressed his deep affection for his ally, Germany, while also reflecting his calls for peace. He clearly recognized that only by taking up arms and engaging in battle could he confront the enemy. Hugo once used the proceeds from reciting his poetry to purchase cannons, allowing the people to defend Paris. His actions demonstrated his high patriotic spirit and fervent fighting passion. Hugo was a humanist, and his works permeated with humanistic thought, including his prose. Hugo pursued human freedom and dignity, yearning for the continuous progress of humanity. He praised anything that aligned with these ideals and condemned or criticized anything that contradicted them. He highly regarded Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire, revealing his longing for ideals of democracy, freedom, and brotherly love. He expressed immense indignation over the death of an innocent boy during Napoleon III's coup. He sympathized with the Polish people, who were invaded by Russia, offering them moral support. At the same time, he showed deep compassion for prostitutes who were humiliated and harmed, condemning those who played with them. He repeatedly opposed the death penalty, believing that even prisoners deserved sympathy. He sympathized with Louis XVI, who was executed, describing the former king in a compassionate light after his abdication and escape as Louis-Philippe. In summary, Hugo was a loyal friend to the oppressed and persecuted people and an implacable enemy of oppressors and reactionaries. Beyond his noble political sentiments, abundant patriotic passion, and righteous sense of justice, Hugo was also a father and lover with profound parental love and passionate affection. My Sons fully demonstrates his tender fatherly heart toward his sons. The Album of Our Wedding Anniversaries records the love story between Hugo and Juliet. Hugo's love for Juliet was not a case of infidelity. After discovering his wife's affair, his spirit was severely wounded, and his childhood love was extinguished. His encounter with Juliet reignited his love, a flame that burned for half a century. They corresponded frequently, and wherever Hugo went, Juliet followed closely behind. From the day they were married, Hugo wrote a passage every year on the same date to commemorate their union. The Album of Our Wedding Anniversaries inadvertently became a faithful record of Hugo and Juliet's love story. Like a New Year's card, Hugo wrote his heart's thoughts almost every year, but he did not send these cards out. Instead, he kept them treasured. This album was placed under his pillow, accompanying him through countless nights. Year after year, the pages recorded formed a precious, a series of love letters never sent. Hugo traveled to many places in his lifetime, and his feelings about foreign landscapes were particularly unique. Early works like A Journey to the Alps captured the majestic beauty of this European mountain, while also showcasing the rich imagination of a romantic writer. A Journey on the Rhine is Hugo's most important travelogue, written in the form of letters, with a total of thirty-nine letters documenting his observations in the Rhine region from 1838 to 1839. As he depicted the grandeur of this European river, he interwove folk tales and myths from the region. In Hugo's view, the Rhine was a river that nurtured European civilization, making him feel particularly close to and yearning for it. Hugo's interwoven narration and commentary demonstrated his extensive historical knowledge, familiarity with the changes in European history, and the cultural development of the Rhine region. Beyond its profound ideological depth, Hugo's prose also held significant documentary value. His works recorded major events and their evolution in the 19th century. As a renowned writer and political activist, Hugo stood at the forefront of political trends and social life, interacting with important political figures and celebrities. His observations thus held historical value. Moreover, due to his special relationships with other famous writers like Balzac, Chateaubriand, George Sand, and Alexandre Dumas, his accounts of their lives and funerals were also invaluable. Hugo's vivid records of significant political events, such as the execution of Louis XVI and the return of Napoleon's remains, provided a vivid commentary on history, equally invaluable in terms of documentation. In terms of art, Hugo's prose possessed many remarkable features that made him a world-class master of the essay. First, Hugo's prose was free and flexible, rich and varied. Each piece had a unique narrative style—some like journalistic accounts or interwoven narration and commentary, others or, some composed of records from several stages, some written from different perspectives on a single topic, some in diary form, and some with thought-provoking conclusions that summarized the essence of the work. Some were lengthy, spanning tens of thousands of words, with a sweeping and unrestrained pen; others were short, with only hundreds or even dozens of words, each word a gem. This demonstrated Hugo's writing prowess. By the 19th century, French prose had reached a mature stage. Chateaubriand's lyrical essays were resonant and elegant, advancing the tradition of Rousseau's nature descriptions. Hugo followed in his footsteps but developed further. His prose included lyrical, philosophical, political, epistolary, diary, and aphoristic forms, synthesizing the best of others and embodying the style and demeanor of the leader of the Romantic movement, as well as his talent and pen. Second, Hugo had a unique narrative style. He often combined meticulous observation with original thinking, making his prose both dramatic and yet powerful. For example, his description of the features of the Reims Cathedral was so detailed that it amazed readers with its precision and keen insight. Then, his tone shifted dramatically to describe a king's statue with a swallows' nest on its crown, expressing a profound reflection. This reflection revealed Hugo's love for the world and life. The earlier narration was meticulous and tight, while the concluding description was abrupt and forceful. The contrast was striking, awakening readers to deeper thoughts. It was clear that Hugo's observations differed from ordinary people, often winning through novelty and emitting an attractive brilliance, leaving a deep impression. In his short essays depicting characters, Hugo also liked to use this contrastive technique. For instance, regarding Talleyrand, a political figure who had been active in several French dynasties, Hugo contrasted his magnificent and gloomy mansion with the dark ditch next to it. The towering, luxurious, and sinister architecture mirrored Talleyrand's body and character. After his death, his brain, which was dissected, was thrown into the ditch by his servants, symbolizing his tragic end and the public's evaluation of him. Hugo was a master of language. His language was rich and varied, unique in its own way. He was a poet, capable of using concise language to depict poetic scenes. He was a novelist and dramatist, often inserting vivid dialogues into his writing, creating stories full of life and color. Hugo's command of language was so adept that he used it effortlessly and skillfully. Richness was one aspect, and uniqueness another. Especially in rhetorical construction, he loved using parallel verbs to express ideas. French verbs are particularly rich, with nuanced and varied tenses. By using parallel verbs, Hugo conveyed complex and concise meanings, layering his arguments and deepening his insights, with great force. The rhetorical device of contrast was another of Hugo's language. For example, these three sentences: "At the bottom are the people. Above the people, the religious representatives of the church. Beside the church, the judicial representatives of justice." These sentences are divided into three lines, with a strikingly parallel way of thinking. Hugo often used such unexpected contrasts to capture readers' attention and achieve a strong effect. Without a doubt, Hugo's prose possessed profound ideological depth and high artistic quality, radiating a unique brilliance. He was fully worthy of his place among the world's great masters of the essay. This collection of essays is a powerful testament to that.