When we first see Marius, he is still a child. Taught to be a royalist by his grandfather, he believes all he is shown, and never thinks of his own opinions. He has virtually no attachment to his father, and does not know of his love for him. However, after the death of his father, he decides to do extensive research, and finds out about the truth, not the biased opinions he once believed. This radically changes his thinking, and he becomes a Bonapartiste Democrat. He then gets into an argument with his grandfather, and leaves the family. He refuses any money sent from his aunt, and becomes a lawyer and a translator. Around this time, he gets into Les Amis De l’ABC an organization wanting to make France a republic. See the Les Amis Analysis for more information. He then changes his political views yet again, becoming a republican. One day, as he walks in the Luxembourg Garden, he sees Cosette, and it’s love at first sight. He stops to work, and stalks her everyday, eventually getting her address from Éponine. He then visits her everyday, talking with her at night. When she leaves, he goes to the barricades as a form of suicide, thinking that his life was over without her. Marius embodies an ordinary young student, still figuring out his way in life and his opinions.
