Cosette: A Timeline That Makes No Sense
Okay, let's talk about Cosette from Les Misérables. Specifically, her age. Prepare yourself, because this is where things get...messy.
We first meet her as a little ragamuffin. She's living with the Thénardiers. Everyone agrees she’s around five or six. Right?
Fast forward, and Jean Valjean rescues her. He takes her away from that terrible inn. Suddenly, time jumps.
The Great Age Debate Begins
Years later, we see Cosette again. She's this beautiful young woman. She is strolling through the Luxembourg Gardens. But how old is she, really?
This is where the fandom divides. Some people say she's around 14 or 15. Others insist she's closer to 17 or 18. I have an unpopular opinion to share, I think she's younger.
The book itself isn't exactly clear. Victor Hugo wasn't too concerned with precise timelines. He had bigger fish to fry. Like revolution and redemption, that's all.
Consider the musical. The actress playing Cosette usually looks like an adult. I'm looking at you Amanda Seyfried. But that's just theater magic.
My Unpopular Cosette Age Theory
Here it comes: I think Cosette is younger than most people believe. I will argue that she is fourteen.
Hear me out! Think about her sheltered upbringing. Jean Valjean kept her locked away. He sheltered her from the world. She is very naive and innocent.
A girl who's been completely isolated wouldn't act like a seasoned 17-year-old. She’d be more… awkward. More wide-eyed. More like Cosette.
Plus, her romance with Marius feels very young. It's all intense gazes and whispered promises. Not exactly a sophisticated affair.
I feel like if she was eighteen, she would have some sort of world awareness. She has not seen the real world.
Think about Eponine, she is world-weary. Eponine is a young woman. Eponine lived in the streets. Cosette has always lived in a gilded cage.
Evidence? Maybe. Mostly Wishful Thinking.
Okay, so maybe I don't have concrete proof. But consider the social context. In 19th-century France, girls married young. Fourteen wouldn't be unheard of. But maybe that is bad reasoning.
Yes, I know, Marius is older. But artistic license, right? It's a story, not a documentary.
Let's face it, age is a construct anyway! Especially in literature. Who are we to impose our modern sensibilities on a classic novel?
Ultimately, It Doesn't Really Matter
Does Cosette's exact age really matter? Probably not. It's more about her journey. It's about her innocence and her transformation.
It's about the power of love and redemption. It's not about arguing over timelines on the internet. Although that is fun.
So, believe what you want to believe. But secretly, you know I'm right about Cosette. 😉
Just kidding! (Mostly.)
Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go re-read Les Misérables. I'm going to overanalyze every single detail. For science!
And maybe, just maybe, I'll find some more "evidence" to support my Cosette age theory. The quest never ends!
