Les Miserables and Feminism

[AlwaysWild]

Was just listening to Les Miserables (as you do), having not done so for many years, certainly prior to having much feminist awareness.

Was struck by the featuring of prostitution as a means of exploiting one of the main female characters. It shows her being worn down, selling everything she has (her jewelry, her hair), referring to her lack of choice because of her desire to help her child, reaching a point of desperation. Then being cajoled and persuaded until she gives in.

Then she sings:

Come on, Captain
You can wear your shoes
Don't it make a change
To have a girl who can't refuse
Easy money
Lying on a bed
Just as well they never see
The hate that's in your head
Don't they know they're making love
To one already dead!

There's a clip here up to 3.40.

I did a bit of googling and found this quote from Victor Hugo (who wrote the book)

"We say that slavery has vanished from European civilization, but this is not true. Slavery still exists, but now it applies only to women and its name is prostitution."

VICTOR HUGO, Les Misérables

Really surprised. Anyone want to discuss Les Mis from a feminist perspective?

Ha - Not sure that things are so different in France - Revolution or no revolution!
Good thought though Jux. I have lost count of the number of times I have seen Les Mis, but I have never got around to reading the books (am I right I am thinking that there are actually 3 books which make up the Val Jean story?)
Something to add to my list of things to do in 2012!

Two books.

Les Mis is a book I have meant to read for years - maybe it is time.

beleive it or not MTI (the licensing people) are bringing out a schools version of Avenue Q, Internet is for porn is becoming Social Life is Online and there are a couple of songs - the sex scene one and girlfriend in Canada which are cut completely

Not seen Ghost - I so wanted to see the premiere in Manchester but it was an awkward time of year for us. Dh gets to see more than I do - he works for a couple of well known MT colleges just outside of London but I am stuck in Staffordshire with the kids most of the time.

I'm going to throw the sublime Sondheim into the mix. Into The Woods has got to be a candidate for having very strong female characters.

You've lost me on the other musicals, but I have found Les Mis book free on kindle.

It's also free at the apple iBooks for iPad lovers! Films and musicals are all very well, but you can't beat a great book.

I have downloaded it too. I dare not start reading it until I have some time on my hands though it seems like it might take a while to read!