This book is a drama in which the leading character is the Infinite, mankind takes second place
Hugo pulls back the curtain a bit regarding what he is trying to accomplish with this novel. It’s not just a story centered on a particular human character, or on a cast of human characters - no, it uses those characters to play out the details but it’s ultimately a book that attempts to capture the relationship of the Infinite (the divine, the universal, the creative impulse behind everything, etc…) to humanity or creation. Much of the palette utilized is tragic in nature, but the focal point is that which lies beyond.
So why is Hugo talking about this at this particular moment in the novel? Because the convent, and it’s close relative the monastery are devices that allow humanity to occasionally catch a glimpse of the Infinite.
I realize that many readers may find this digression to be Hugo’s most indulgent so far, but I’m finding it to be welcome. After spending so much time at the Convent its nice to have someone stop and say “you may be wondering why I included this” because I was indeed wondering why. This kind of parenthesis is welcome, especially with a sprawling novel like this one, where we cover a lot of territory and there is a lot more going on outside of the main narrative itself.
We’ll close with a final thought from Hugo on the Infinite when we chance to encounter it in humanity:
…So great a subject for spiritual contemplation, such measureless dreaming - the echo of God on the human wall!