Victor Hugo
French · 19th century
French novelist, poet, and dramatist, author of Les Misérables and The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
Connection to Taylor Swift
Uncle Jerry draws a thematic parallel between Hugo's character Fantine, a young woman taken advantage of to her ruination, and the speaker of Would've, Could've, Should've.
Notable Works
- Les Misérables, The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
Appears in the Archive
Context within the Archive
Les Misérables
Uncle Jerry connects the song to the character of Fantine in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, who was taken advantage of to the ruination of her life. He sees the parallel in a young woman exploited by an older man with devastating consequences. He also notes the redemptive arc through Fantine's daughter Cosette being rescued, contrasting it with the unresolved pain in the song. Uncle Jerry recommends the full novel and shows a translation by Christine Donougher.
Les Misérables
Angela & Uncle Jerry include Les Misérables in the love-at-first-sight list, noting that the first time Marius sees Cosette it is love at first sight.