POETS' REPUBLIC VICTOR HUGOINTHE THE PRESIDENT THE POETAND to February24 October 22 Rives-en-Seine (Villequier) www.museevictorhugo.fr Musée VictorHugo Maison Vacquerie nd th 2018 2019

THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT ror of the French onMay 18 French ofthe ror Hewould himselfEmpe goonto proclaim - Bonaparte. power was heldby the only one,Napoléon in reality consuls,yet ofthree authority illusory set upunderthe was government totalitarian Consulate. Thisarbitrary by governed the aperiod entered in 1799,andFrance Revolution, was overthrown the soonafter established Directoire, agovernment Directory, the The French Republic. Third ofthe proclamation and the until1870 France would rock which and instability ofpoliticalupheaval beginningofaperiod ked only the symbolicvalue, mar Yet ofgreat event, although this the French on August 9 onAugust French the Louis-Philippe IofOrléans was Kingof proclaimed THE JULYMONARCHY onJuly 14 Bastille ofthe storming the year 1789with year 1789,andthe the associated with word ‘revolution’ iscommonly the French, Among the A TURBULENTAGE to Europe. conquer Napoléon Iwas alsoanambitioussoldierandheset out was gagged, itsanger violently suppressed. the public financiers, handsofthe wasapparatus inthe Guizot. François Thestate government, head ofthe yourselves) voiced by“enrichissez-vous the !” (enrich of rallying cry bankers, embodied by the bourgeoisie andthe goldenage ofthe This was the inFrance. monarchy ruling last and would alsobethe ofkings divineright endofthe markedThis period the royalists, royalists, moderate andrepublicans. ultra- bourgeoisie, oppositionfrom heattracted wealthy th 1830. Supported by the by the 1830.Supported th 1804. th . - disastrous. On April 6 OnApril disastrous. and numerous increasingly and hisdefeats grew However, andconflicts hisconquests were expensive guaranteed a certain level ofsecurity. acertain guaranteed apower which with hedidnot quarrel theatre, hiswork censure was subject to atthe the and, despite This was why heplacedhishopesinLouis-Philippe violence itmightcause. by afear ofrevolution andthe hewas alsopreoccupied progress, social andsocietal needfor becameaware ofthe hegradually Although saw hisfinancialsituationimprove asaconsequence. new and regime He composed odesinhomage to the this new king. Charles from to profit X,didnot hesitate the largesse of having from profited Hugo himself,after Monarchy heldpowerMonarchy until1848. Victor HugobecameaPeer TheJuly ofFrance. that whomhewas intimate, quite of Louis-Philippe,with monarchy. reign a parliamentary Itwas underthe into France aimed to express hiswillingnessto turn atitlewhich French, butKingofthe king ofFrance assumed power andLouis-PhilippeIbecamenot the ofCharles reign X.TheOrléans familyan endto the Juillet (1830)–literally, days ofJuly –finally put the movement de knownA revolutionary asLesJournées land. havoc the across wreaked andcrime whilepoverty continued to rise, were poor. ofbread faltered andharvests Theprice economy French the reactionary. its final years, During and seenasdecrepit rejection ofamonarchy the ideasand ofliberal return the fervent finally lead to Thiswould last. the would prove unpopular more than which government the period, this Bourbons. During was ofthe His reign followed restoration by the and was sentinto exile. th 1814,Napoléon Iabdicated citizens to revoltcitizens oppression. against anger, for andactsofaccusation calling for disrespect, Victor Hugo.Hismonologueswere invectives, songsof for actedasaplatform theater period, this During injustice. the needfor to mend feel change, agreat make them the audience, to final injustice was intended to outrage This love, andunjust andculminatedinatragic death. clashofopposites,redemption through the addressed 8playshe composed andstaged in8years. They all thoughts into action, fight Puttinghis for freedom. the poet inrevolutions, in ofthe role onthe He meditated word andthe ‘republic’ ‘monarchy’.” thing the Choses Vues July 1830 (ThingsSeen)after FALLL OF THE JULY MONARCHY JULY THE OF FALLL ideal political project would this achieve Louis-Philippe’s ofabetterand hoped,for option, that lack ROMANTICISM INPOLITICS for the motherland, for freedom, and for the people, for andfor motherland, freedom, the for the out 1830s,Victor Hugospoke beginningofthe At the the political spectrum. the of left to the shift politics, whilepointingto hisfuture ofVictor into Hugo’s entry start education, marking the promotion of andthe denunciation ofpoverty This was onthe followed ofspeeches by aseries Chamberof Peers. government’s positionsinthe the with continued to express hisdisagreement advantages hegained Louis-Philippe.He from However, he was not completely blindedby the Louis-Philippe in1845. by subsequently namedapeerofFrance and was then age of40), failed the attempts, butbefore hereached Académie four Françaisemember ofthe in1841(after ascent literary sides. Thepoet was onthe onboth was There undoubtedly someinterest court. kingandthe Tuileries the with hemingled where Victor took him to Les Hugo’s often socialaffairs . Hewrote in ; hebecamea : “We need On February 25 On February situation. of the measure yet Louis-Philippedidnotand monarchism, full take towardsdecisions move conservatism increasingly andits government “CitizenKing”,seeingthe the confidencein peoplelost years passed,the As the andanarchy Disorder yes. Revolution : conclusion : His contemptpeople combinedwith mob.” ofthe implies disdainofdisorder, for respect grave the this ofrevolutions sympathetic understanding whichthis andbenevolent austere turmoil, knowHe must how to above remain unrelenting the events sodeserve. whenthey ofhistoric dignity to the influence (…),itisup to him to elevate political events (…)(a)civilising role, poet hasaserious “(…) the poet insociety ofthe role Hugo explains, hones,andreinforces hisideaofthe preface to VoixIn the (InnerVoices) Intérieures (1837), king. to the close andofthose ofministers corruption linked to the weakenedincreasingly by aproliferation ofscandals claimedto avoid which government, excess, was Louis-Philippe’s rhetoric, to this In contrast support for the monarchy in France. inFrance. monarchy for the support situationandceasedhis the Victor Hugounderstood Hôtel deVille inParis. atthe republic monarchy. the proclaimed Lamartine favour Butitwas too lateto save ofhisgrandson. the movement, Louis-Philippeabdicatedin revolutionary th 1848, in the face of the extent of the extent ofthe face ofthe 1848,inthe : no. : ; (…) he has in his heart ; (…)hehasinhisheart

THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT 24 onFebruary established The provisional government old. the establish to impose anew or to re- regime attempts either politicalmovements wouldprincipal clashintheir the which during period, of anextremely unstable start marked republic the ofthe The proclamation JUNE 1848 FROM FEBRUARYTO interests. or to defend their to express themselves buthadnoopportunity theories, to socialist listened Thesemeninevitably for survival. day, inexchange for pay was enough only just which difficult economicupheaval were this from arose class which revolution. Workingindustrial new conditionsfor the ofan midst was alsointhe rural, very still although July Monarchy, the tenyears. France, During almost hadbeenloomingfor change brewing, this storm Louis-Philippehadnot beenaware ofthe Although THE ANGEROFPEOPLE - - - - - : measures significant rapidlyThe provisional took government some forsame desire fraternity. They the republic. alsoshared ofthe proclamation matter ononly one agreed were reconcile.They difficult to whose hopesanddreams backgrounds, different from of assembly, association,etc. and press the right ofthe offreedom Re-establishment for politicaloffences penalty death ofthe Abolition colonies inthe ofslavery Abolition Universal malesuffrage right to work the of Affirmation th 1848, headed by Lamartine, was composed ofmen 1848,headedby Lamartine, : the necessary end of the monarchy and the andthe monarchy endofthe necessary : the ; a worker carried out 15 hours oflabourper out15hours ; aworker carried National Workshops look like.” he liesback down pavement. Thisiswhatthe onthe head, andanswers doing nudges hisfoot, himwith andsays beside awall. players comesupto Oneofthe him, man,alsoinoveralls,Another stretched islying out projects National isoneofthe cards ofthe Workshops. Royale, which isnow calledPlace desVosges. Playing in overalls arcadesofPlace underthe cards playing are system opposed to this Hugo The effectonopinion was was disastrous. work. butmany without people were remained registered, 100,000 than more endofApril, Bythe all ofFrance. a few days andaworkforce converged from onParis majorwas impossible to projects initiatesuch inonly works, etc. Unfortunately,and railway construction it ofroad implementation the unemployment through National Workshops.the Thesewere intendedto avert foundation of working ledto the populationinParis, major for preoccupation to work, the the The right women would unheard. remain voices of 200,000to 9,000,000voters, from the grew electoral body the andequality. Although of fraternity movementWomen great excluded remained this from amputation.” canleadtopimple an adiseaseandgraze determines least isaweakness blood,the When there inthe upsidedownis turned […]Idon’t like symptoms. these sentinonfoot. policeare league, andthe AllofParis National “The the the Guard, rioting, moberupts, Vues : inChoses occurrence this Hugo described were violently suppressed. hunger which riots numberofunemployed grew.the Strikes endedin ominously. rose ofbread price Many businessesfailed, between 1846and1848 hitFrance which economiccrisis byaccelerated the was further The phenomenonofpauperisation ?’ The sleeper wakes up, rubs his eyes, lifts his hiseyes,?’ Thesleeperwakes lifts up, rubs : ‘Well, my I’mearning 20sous ; hewrote inChosesVues ; harvests were poor and the were poorandthe ; harvests : ‘What you are : “Men !’ And THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PRESIDENTIAL THE supported the Bonaparte candidate. L’Évènement Bonaparte the supported as well Vacquerie asAuguste andPaul Meurice. Hugo clan, his two sons Charles and François-Victor,the loyal more of members to someofthe newspaper the andeditingof running the heentrusted ring, into the hisown hat hewas throwing impression that give the himself amemberofparliament anddidnot wishto calledL’Évènementnewspaper . However, ashewas one candidate.Hugowas noexception championed andeach a proliferation ofnewspapers hadledto press ofthe offreedom re-establishment The press. outinthe campaign was largely carried Theelectoral Bonapartists. head ofhisown the party, atthe andLouis-Napoléon Bonaparte, monarchists, the Changarnier, socialists, representing nameofthe in the Raspail, socialdemocrats, leaderofthe Ledru-Rollin, republicans, moderate both Cavaignac andLamartine, malesuffrage sanctionofuniversal General were the electionafter first atthe The candidateswhostood ; hefounded a December 10 hewas on electedpresident that surprise no real was essentialfor order. maintaining Itwas therefore politicalrigour Healsoclaimedthat principles. socialist utopia-tinged with shoulders idealsrubbed romantic aproject presented inwhich his cause.Bonaparte name,incitedHugoto rally behind aprestigious with associated (1844),which, Extinction ofPauperism) essays, includingL’Extinction duPaupérisme (The In fact, hadpublishedseveral L.N. Bonaparte values andthe andtraditions epitome ofcertain For many, the was Louis-Napoléon both Bonaparte soon bedashed. inhim.Hishopeswould who would placeallhistrust for Hesaw France. himselfasanadvisorto apresident would mark anewHugo believed ofprogress era this founder ofanew society,conservative. aprogressive th 1848 with more than 75% of the vote. 75%ofthe than more 1848with possible possible

THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT on universal suffrage,on universal andsoon). clergy, imposed ofthe by members restrictions against Falloux the against billfavouring educationdispensed poverty, against forgotten (speeches people andthe towards adefencepushed himincreasingly ofthe ChamberofPeers, buthissensibility inthe addressed to subjects related already often interventions Assembly.Hugo was also active inthe His heshouldtake. politicaldirection him which columnsofL’Évènementcontinued to usethe to tell AncienRégime. Hetherefore defenders ofthe the hewas to make wrong apactwith would that realise a minister. president Yet the hopedthat hestill disabusedofhishopesbecoming Hugo was quickly putforward. inattendanceorpropositions ministers Assembly, andthe of hisgovernment ofthe regardless support nevermajority. seemedto have Bonaparte the to aconservative Assembly reverted French the electionsofMay 1849, the After monarchists. by the will, hewas forced dominated agovernment to form his Against to joinhisgovernment. him andrefused distrusted politics.Therepublicans world ofFrench knowledge real ofthe andwithout support without of governing difficulty soondiscoveredpresident the politicalreality. The face ofthe diminished inthe The satisfaction ofhaving beenelectedrapidly THE PRINCE-PRESIDENT president “Napoléonpresident lePetit” Little. , orNapoleon the the he rechristened that speech this It was during many police[.]” andfar culled,not enoughjustice, too tracked, jury the to rot (Commotion) beingleft men are youwhere would not leave to mattresses rot, butwhere atBelle-Isle,casemates of Bône[now Annaba],tortures backed,the in kasbah groans intensified, deportation transportation refused, amnesty under surveillance, siege infive and départements, Paris Lyon placed of peopleretained astate orre-established, on the taxes burdensome disproportionate overridden, nation ofthe heart in the Freemasonry of Bonapartist officials into asort Commotion)thousand five […]which hasturned willperhaps (Lively speakofaconspiracy history politics mutilated other the “All andgarrotted snared ourfreedoms oneafter the presidency of three years first assessment ofthe hemakes uncompromising harangue, asad In this ; for government, ahuge (Movement), intrigue ; universalsuffrage betrayed, abandoned, ; socialist programmes endinginJesuit programmes ; socialist ! All reforms deferred or ! Allreforms deferred ! The press ! Thepress : defend hisconvictions. rationally andto fully to speak learning had matured, he as hasoccasionally beensuggested, butinstead metamorphosis, he hadnot aspectacular undergone interval this During activists. principal was oneofthe four years later, time, lessthan he this republic, the of proclamation the 1848during events inFebruary of Victor Hugohadbeenonly aspectator Although population. the hisactionsdidnot Paris, succeedinmobilising across meetings ofsecret atbarricades atahost and lectured around heran ofparliament,members andalthough those ofseveral other and hisefforts Despite uprising. ofapopular possibility Victor Hugobelieved inthe young republic, to the threat the 1851 andglimpsed On November 26 When he woke on the morning ofDecember2 morning When hewoke onthe COUP D’ÉTAT THE ENDOFFREEDOMS of secret societiesof secret was real. influence as fear andtightly controlled, ofthe restricted to assembly was also ofexpression. Theright freedom and, consequently, press, and of the of thought freedom freedom decidedto curb government the opinion, the condemnationsonpublic impact ofthese Fearing the newspapers. inthe criticisms andharsh of attacks number beginningofanincreasing This was only the give France idea,norapeacefulconquest onesingle chief ofFrance,times, the magistrate hasnot beenableto nameinmodern million votes, greatest ofthe bearer fast approaching. Inoneyear, elected by person the six of10December is “(…) Time passes.Theanniversary in L’Évènement : th 1849, one of the writers commented writers 1849,oneofthe nd

! […]” Belgium, he left France onDecember11 France Belgium, heleft false to enter papers whosuppliedhimwith Drouet, helpofJuliette the With ifhewere arrested. uncertain policeandhisfate was Hugowas huntedbylost. the battlewas the hadto accept that republicans other Following Hugo and several days ofactive struggle, On December20 typesetter. Lanvin, a ofJacques-Firmin assumedidentity the Won September 15 were not alwaysillustrators kindto him. press even though portrait, orscathing a caricature Hehadnever opposedpublicationof since hisyouth. hehaddefendedhad always andwhich sympathised Hugo which was press anissuewith ofthe Freedom numbered. numbered. SecondRepublic were days ofthe on,the then From partisans. andhis the president open for therefore left field was people.The eyes ofthe inthe to beseenascredible loomingcoupd’état were too divided Opponents ofthe L’Avènement duPeuple. was newspaper rechristened publication, the To inprison. to several months avoid suspending wereVictor sentenced HugoandPaul Meurice L’Évènement François- for was suspended onemonth. constitution, for to the andloyalty hisrespect stating president well asextracts by declarations from the executive power, the attacking as articles various only just begun. only just had However, politicalstruggle for Victor Hugo,the hadspoken. constitution, placed aboveW even the ofdemocracy, authority the highest Universal suffrage, vote. the was Theresult conclusivePresident. to vote Prince- infavour French invited ofthe the th and21 th 1851, after having published 1851,after st , the promised plebiscite promised , the ; hewon 90%of th 1851under

THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT THE POET AND THE PRESIDENT www.museevictorhugo.fr