The Last Day of a Condemned Man

Summary

Victor Hugo's novel "The Last Day of a Condemned Man" narrates the final hours of a man sentenced to death. The protagonist, whose name remains unknown, keeps a diary where he describes his thoughts, feelings, and experiences from the moment of sentencing to the last minutes before execution. Through his entries, the reader witnesses the fear, despair, and hopelessness experienced by a person condemned to die. Hugo uses this story to express his condemnation of the death penalty and to highlight its inhumanity and cruelty.

Main Ideas

• Condemnation of the death penalty as an inhumane and cruel punishment.
• Depiction of the psychological suffering and inner world of a person awaiting execution.
• Critique of the social and judicial system that allows the death penalty.
• Exploration of the themes of human dignity and the right to life.
• Illustration of the senselessness and barbarity of public executions.
• Questions of morality and justice in the context of the death penalty.

Historical Context and Significance

Victor Hugo's "The Last Day of a Condemned Man" is a powerful work that questions the moral and ethical aspects of the death penalty. Written in 1829, the book is an internal monologue of a man awaiting execution. Hugo uses this narrative to express his humanistic views and critique the justice system. The work had a significant impact on public opinion and contributed to the development of the movement against the death penalty. The book also influenced literature, becoming one of the first examples of a psychological novel, focusing on the protagonist's inner world.

Main Characters and Their Development

• The Condemned Man - the main character and narrator, whose name remains unknown. He is sentenced to death and spends his final days awaiting execution. His inner world and reflections on life, death, justice, and human nature form the core of the book. As the execution approaches, his thoughts become increasingly profound and desperate.
• Marie - the condemned man's daughter, symbolizing innocence and purity. Her presence highlights the contrast between the cruelty of the sentence and the innocence of a child. The meeting with his daughter before the execution becomes one of the most emotional moments for the protagonist.
• The Condemned Man's Wife - her character also remains unnamed, but she plays a crucial role in the protagonist's life. Her suffering and grief over her husband's sentence underscore the tragedy of the situation and heighten the emotional tension in the book.
• The Prison Chaplain - he tries to comfort the condemned man and prepare him for death from a religious perspective. His presence prompts various reflections on faith and religion in the protagonist.
• The Jailers and Guards - they represent the faceless force of law and order, performing their duties without much emotion. Their indifference to the condemned man's fate underscores the cruelty and inhumanity of the justice system.

Style and Technique

Victor Hugo's novel "The Last Day of a Condemned Man" is written in the genre of social drama and takes the form of diary entries by the protagonist sentenced to death. The style of the work is characterized by deep emotionality and psychological insight, allowing the reader to empathize with the hero's inner experiences. The language of the book is rich with metaphors, symbols, and allegories that emphasize the tragedy of the situation. Hugo employs techniques of internal monologue and stream of consciousness to convey the thoughts and feelings of the condemned. The narrative structure is linear but includes retrospective inserts that help reveal the protagonist's backstory and his reflections on life and death. The author also actively uses dialogues and descriptions to create an atmosphere of hopelessness and despair. Overall, the work is aimed at criticizing the death penalty and evokes deep moral and ethical reflections in the reader.

Interesting Facts

• The book is written in the form of a diary, where the protagonist describes his last six weeks before execution.
• The work is one of the first in literature where the author openly opposes the death penalty.
• The main character remains unnamed, emphasizing the universality of his suffering and making him a symbol of all those condemned to death.
• Victor Hugo used the book as a platform to express his humanistic views and critique the judicial system.
• The book sparked widespread public resonance and became an important contribution to the movement for the abolition of the death penalty in France.

Book Review

Victor Hugo's "The Last Day of a Condemned Man" is a powerful and emotional work that questions the moral and ethical aspects of the death penalty. Critics note that Hugo masterfully conveys the inner experiences and fears of the protagonist condemned to death. The book is written in the form of a diary, allowing the reader to delve deeper into the thoughts and feelings of the condemned. Hugo uses vivid and expressive imagery to depict the horror and senselessness of the death penalty. The work evokes strong emotions and prompts reflection on the humanity and justice of society. Critics also emphasize that the book remains relevant today, as questions of life and death are timeless. Hugo succeeded in creating a work that not only touches the soul but also encourages reflection and action.