Les miserables:
1. Explain why Cosette’s childhood was miserable (200 words or more).

2. Explain why Marius' childhood was miserable (200 words or more).

3. Who do you think had the most miserable childhood? (200 words or more).

Cosette has had a truly tragic childhood. At the mere age of three, Fantine is forced to pay the Thénardiers, at an inn that they own to take care of Cosette as Fantine attends her job each day. Cosette suffered through starvation, lack of affection, and has Chilblains on her hands and feet (Chilblains is a medical condition caused by an escalated exposure to cold and humidity.) Cosette is even abused and harassed daily by the Thenardiers while they “take care of her” while her mother works. The Thenardiers would beat her violently and constantly, insult her by referring to her constantly as thin and pale, and dressed in rags.  When Fantine is secluded in the hospital, Jean Val Jean promises to go retrieve Cosette for Fantine. Devastatingly, Fantine dies before being able to reconnect or see her daughter again. Although Jean Val’Jean is devastated by the death of Fantine, he is determined to follow through with his promise. As he goes to retrieve cosette, he witnesses how gruesomely she is mistreated by the Thenardiers. He comes back the next day with a beautiful and expensive doll that he offers to Cosette. She joyfully accepts, and after lots of bribery and manipulation leaves with Jean Val’Jean.  

Marius is the ever caring suitor of Cosette. When Marius Pontmercy is first introduced to the story he lives with his rich and powerful ninety year old Grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand. Monsieur Gillenormand is a passionate Monarchist and expresses his support often and loudly. For the entirety of Marius’s life, he had been told repeatedly that his father, George Pontmercy had abandoned him and given him to Gillenormand years ago. Shortly after Marius turns seventeen he is sent to meet his father for the first time. He soon learns that his father is fatally ill, and arrives just after he dies. The only trace left of his father is a note that was left to Marius from him. The note instructs Marius to help and support Thenardiers in any way that he can. The reason for this is because of the belief that his father has that Thenardier saved his life. In the future this presents Marius with countless problems after the daughter of Thenardiers falls in love with him. He must reject her day after day as he continues to strive for Cosette's affection.  

I think Cosette was definitely the one with the most unbearable and miserable childhood. Cosette was forced to overcome shame, disgrace, abuse and much more. Marius did have an overwhelming amount of pressure and social expectations that he had to overcome, but Cosette was faced with endless amounts of bullying, physical abuse, and discrimination for the fact that her existence was the result of a scandal. It is exceptionally fortunate that Jean Val Jean found and adopted her. Without Jean Val Jean Cosette would have been abandoned, starved, and frozen.  

Explanation:

a. the scene is structured as a dialogue between two characters in their own informal language.