Les Misérables - Tome I - Fantine — Résumé 🇺🇸 English
The internal existence of M Myriel, the bishop of Digne, is defined by a deep commitment to voluntary poverty and spiritual devotion. Sleeping very little, he spends his early mornings in contemplation, followed by mass and a simple breakfast of rye bread soaked in cow milk. Despite his demanding administrative duties, which include managing diocesan affairs, writing pastoral letters, and mediating between local authorities, he prioritizes helping the needy and the sick. He divides his remaining time between reading, writing, and tending his garden, viewing both intellectual work and physical labor as forms of cultivation.
At midday, the bishop eats a frugal lunch before embarking on his daily walks through the city and countryside. Dressed in a warm padded violet cassock and a traditional hat, his presence brings warmth and comfort to the inhabitants. Children, elders, and mothers greet him with reverence as he moves through the streets to visit the poor until his funds are exhausted, after which he visits the wealthy. To hide the wear and tear of his old garments, he wears his thick violet cassock year round, accepting the slight discomfort it causes in the summer heat.
His evenings are marked by strict simplicity and routine. At half past eight, he dines frugally with his sister, Mademoiselle Baptistine, while their servant, Madame Magloire, waits on them. The meal consists mainly of vegetables cooked in water and oil soup, though Madame Magloire takes advantage of visits from local curates to serve finer dishes like lake fish or mountain game. After a brief conversation with the two women following dinner, M Myriel retires to his room to write and study until the women go upstairs at nine o'clock, leaving him alone on the ground floor.
M Myriel is a scholar who leaves behind several intellectual writings, including a dissertation analyzing translations of Genesis and another investigating theological works. He frequently pauses during his reading to record profound theological reflections directly in the margins of his books. In one notable marginal note, he catalogs the various names given to the Divine throughout scripture, concluding that Mercy is the most beautiful name of all.