But at about four o’clock the English line wavered. There was suddenly nothing to be seen on the high ground of the plateau but the guns and gun-crews.The infantry regiments, unable to withstand the hail of French cannon and musketry fire, had taken refuge in the depression which the farm lane of Mont-Saint-Jean still crosses. There was a general movement of withdrawal. Wellington’s battle line was crumbling. “It’s the beginning of the retreat!” Napoleon cried.
This is how Hugo ends this chapter, one in which he details the fog of war clearing at around four o’clock in the afternoon to reveal the French taking serious ground, seemingly on the precipice of victory.
Hougomont, which we know was on the base of the left leg of our “A” shaped battle field had been breached by the French. La-Haie-Saint, a farmhouse at the base of the right side of the “A” had been taken by the French. All that remained of Wellington’s defense was concentrated at the center, just above the cross beam of the “A”.
Wellington has pulled together all of the defenses he can muster. A hill in front of this plateau and the village behind, with the forest beyond that, they are hemmed in but still hold the tactical advantage of the hill.
The way Hugo sets this up it looks like Napoleon is about to seize victory on the next page, but we all know that is not what happens at all.
What lessons are there here? what parallels to the story we’ve been reading and this sudden plunge into this battle that had taken place a few years in the past?
I can’t help but think about the shape of Jean Valjean’s story so far. It had been a harsh plunge to rock bottom facilitated by a system set on his destruction. Then, we were witness to his meteoric rise, becoming a beloved mayor with influence far beyond his actual city. When it seemed like nothing could challenge that, and that Valjean (living under the guise of Madeileine) was actively using this influence to change the fates of many others harmed by the system, we ran into a conflict that we should have anticipated. His true identity, that of Jean Valjean, was coming for him. He had a choice to make, another fork in the road. He couldn’t keep dragging this secret around with him. He chose to step into the light, to save the falsely accused, and in the wake of that decision Fantine died and Cosette’s fate became even more uncertain. The tides turned. The sure victory became a defeat of some sort, and we don’t yet know how deep it will go.
Why bring all this back up now? I can’t help but see in Napoleon a confidence that we know in hindsight was misplaced. The “fates” had other plans for him. Destiny was going to take an unexpected left turn. Overconfidence changes the way we step, and the risks we are willing to take. Was Napoleon over confident? Was Jean Valjean? I can’t answer with a definitive yes, but I do know that stories like this tell me that the battle is never truly over. Every day is a fresh fight. Every day our principles, values, beliefs and allegiances are tested. Every day we have new opportunities to choose truth, goodness, love, beauty and “rightness”.