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In Victor Hugo's
novel Les Miserables, he devotes paragraphs to discriptions of dress.
He leaves no social class out in his commentaries: the theives,
the gamin, the clergy, the bourgeoisie, every group's dress is described.
What real purpose of Hugo's detail orienteted descriptions can only
be supposed. I propse that Hugo used description for two reasons.
First, Hugo wished to bring the reader's attention to every aspect
of the character and second, dress descriptions mirrored societies
sterotypes which Hugo reflected in his work.
(click on picture for source)
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Les
Mis Quotation
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Interpretation
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| "And
then she was no longer a boarding-school miss, with her plush
bonnet, merino dress, thick shoes, and red hands; taste had
come to her with beauty, and she was well dressed, with a species
of simple, rich, and uneffected elegance. She wore a black brocade
dress, a cloak of the same material, and a white crape bonnet;
her white gloves displayed the elegance of her hand which was
playing with the ivory handle of a parasol, and her satin boot
revealed the smallness of her foot." (Hugo Marius, Book
6, p 139) |
Sitting
demurly, Cossett ememplifies a lady of refinment. Her clothes
acentuate that image. White gloves of purity and the black dress
of sobriety. |
(click on picture for source)
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Les
Mis Quotation
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Interpretation
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| "Mr Gillenormand's coat was not in the style
of Louis XV or even Louis XVI, but it was in the style of the
Incroyables of the Cirectory. His coat was of light cloth with
large flaps, with a long swallow-tail and large steel buttons.
Add to these knee-breeches and buckle-shoes. Such was M. Luke
Esprit Gillenormand, who had not lost his hair, which was rather
gray than white, and always wore it in dog's-ears. Altogether
he was venerable. He was a man of the eighteenth century, frivolous
and grand." |
In this picture the double nature of the bouregoisie
(outward splendor, inner stinginess) is represented. The room
is quite large and the mantle ornate. The picture frame is also
luxurious but the floors are bare and the chairs simple. Mr
Gillenormand is sitting straight with exspenive dress clothes
on but he has pulled his chair close to the small fire which
hints at stingyness and lack of refinment |
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