Enjolras
Encyclopedia
Enjolras is the charismatic leader of the Friends of the ABC in the 1862 novel Les Misérables
by Victor Hugo
.
Marius Pontmercy
. Enjolras is a firm believer in democracy and equality. He declares "Patria" or "fatherland" as his mistress. This makes him the opposite of the character Grantaire who is cynical and believes in nothing. Despite the differences in their characters, Grantaire looks up to Enjolras and often refers to him as a Greek god.
points out that Javert
, posing as a revolutionary, is actually a spy for the army. The men take Javert prisoner. After a drunken revolutionary shoots an innocent, Enjolras promptly executes him.
The students mourn the death of Mabeuf and plan what to do with Javert
. They decide to keep him as a hostage. Enjolras sends five men away from the barricade, realizing that those at the barricade will die. Valjean
arrives at the barricade. Enjolras orders Javert's execution; Valjean leads Javert away, and sets him free instead.
. His role is relatively unchanged.
, while in the novel they were in a heavy argument because of their political differences. While he does not have a personal feud against Marius, he does slightly scorn him for letting his romantic life get in the way of the revolution, but usually treats him like he would any other student and is almost a big brother figure to him.
After news of General Lamarque's death, he rouses the revolutionaries and declares that now is the time to strike. The students build a barricade in the street. During the first attack, Enjolras is nearly killed by a sniper who is in turn killed by Valjean, saving Enjolras' life. To thank Valjean, Enjolras allows him to the privilege of executing the police spy, Inspector Javert, but Valjean lets the inspector go free, as in the novel. In the end, Enjolras is not executed by soldiers, but is shot at the barricade while waving a red flag as his symbol of revolution. This actually happened to Monsieur Mabeuf in the novel, but this was changed to make the barricade plot easier to follow.
At no point in the libretto of the play is Enjolras' name mentioned (possibly due to difficulty in pronouncing it). On the Complete Symphonic Recording, however, it is shouted at the beginning of the song "Red and Black", though it is slightly mispronounced: the J is pronounced in the English way, instead of the French way. In the Paris Revival Cast Recording (1991), his name is also heard at the beginning of "Le Café Des Amis De L'ABC." It is also heard at the beginning of "Red and Black" in the 25th Anniversary concert.
Les Misérables
Les Misérables , translated variously from the French as The Miserable Ones, The Wretched, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, or The Victims), is an 1862 French novel by author Victor Hugo and is widely considered one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century...
by Victor Hugo
Victor Hugo
Victor-Marie Hugo was a Frenchpoet, playwright, novelist, essayist, visual artist, statesman, human rights activist and exponent of the Romantic movement in France....
.
The Friends of the ABC
Enjolras is the leader of Les Amis de l'ABC (The Friends of the ABC), a group of students dedicated to making political changes in France. Enjolras devoutly believes in democratic freedom, which leads him into an argument with the BonapartistBonapartist
In French political history, Bonapartism has two meanings. In a strict sense, this term refers to people who aimed to restore the French Empire under the House of Bonaparte, the Corsican family of Napoleon Bonaparte and his nephew Louis...
Marius Pontmercy
Marius Pontmercy
Marius Pontmercy is a principal fictional character in Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel Les Misérables. He is young, intense, and in love with Cosette. He fights at the barricades with Enjolras and the Friends of the ABC when %C3%89ponine tricks him into going to the barricade and he resolves to die...
. Enjolras is a firm believer in democracy and equality. He declares "Patria" or "fatherland" as his mistress. This makes him the opposite of the character Grantaire who is cynical and believes in nothing. Despite the differences in their characters, Grantaire looks up to Enjolras and often refers to him as a Greek god.
June 5, 1832
During the funeral of General Lamarque, a popular defender of the people, the monarchy dispatches troops to keep the peace. As shots are fired, Enjolras and the rest of the Friends of the ABC spring up and build a barricade outside of a wine shop in the rue Mondetour. They build the barricade out of common items, arm themselves and prepare for the coming fight. GavrocheGavroche
Gavroche is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.-Gavroche in the novel:Gavroche is the eldest son of M. and Mme Thénardier. He has two sisters, Éponine and Azelma, and two unnamed younger brothers. He is also technically unnamed; the reader is told he chooses the...
points out that Javert
Javert
Javert is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. He is a prison guard, and later policeman, who devotes his life to the law. He is always referred to just simply as "Javert" or "Inspector Javert" by the narrator and other characters throughout the novel; his first name...
, posing as a revolutionary, is actually a spy for the army. The men take Javert prisoner. After a drunken revolutionary shoots an innocent, Enjolras promptly executes him.
The students mourn the death of Mabeuf and plan what to do with Javert
Javert
Javert is a fictional character from the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. He is a prison guard, and later policeman, who devotes his life to the law. He is always referred to just simply as "Javert" or "Inspector Javert" by the narrator and other characters throughout the novel; his first name...
. They decide to keep him as a hostage. Enjolras sends five men away from the barricade, realizing that those at the barricade will die. Valjean
Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables...
arrives at the barricade. Enjolras orders Javert's execution; Valjean leads Javert away, and sets him free instead.
Death
The barricades fall and as the army presses onwards, Enjolras retreats into the wine shop. He alone is left untouched by bullets and wounds. Grantaire, awakening from his drunken stupor, asks to be shot with Enjolras. The soldiers execute both of them. Enjolras is pierced by eight bullets.Enjolras in the musical
Enjolras is in the stage musical of the same nameLes Misérables (musical)
Les Misérables , colloquially known as Les Mis or Les Miz , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo....
. His role is relatively unchanged.
Similarities and differences from the novel
In the musical, Enjolras remains the leader of the Friends of the ABC and the revolutionary students. He also already appears to be close, or best friends with Marius PontmercyMarius Pontmercy
Marius Pontmercy is a principal fictional character in Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel Les Misérables. He is young, intense, and in love with Cosette. He fights at the barricades with Enjolras and the Friends of the ABC when %C3%89ponine tricks him into going to the barricade and he resolves to die...
, while in the novel they were in a heavy argument because of their political differences. While he does not have a personal feud against Marius, he does slightly scorn him for letting his romantic life get in the way of the revolution, but usually treats him like he would any other student and is almost a big brother figure to him.
After news of General Lamarque's death, he rouses the revolutionaries and declares that now is the time to strike. The students build a barricade in the street. During the first attack, Enjolras is nearly killed by a sniper who is in turn killed by Valjean, saving Enjolras' life. To thank Valjean, Enjolras allows him to the privilege of executing the police spy, Inspector Javert, but Valjean lets the inspector go free, as in the novel. In the end, Enjolras is not executed by soldiers, but is shot at the barricade while waving a red flag as his symbol of revolution. This actually happened to Monsieur Mabeuf in the novel, but this was changed to make the barricade plot easier to follow.
At no point in the libretto of the play is Enjolras' name mentioned (possibly due to difficulty in pronouncing it). On the Complete Symphonic Recording, however, it is shouted at the beginning of the song "Red and Black", though it is slightly mispronounced: the J is pronounced in the English way, instead of the French way. In the Paris Revival Cast Recording (1991), his name is also heard at the beginning of "Le Café Des Amis De L'ABC." It is also heard at the beginning of "Red and Black" in the 25th Anniversary concert.
Songs
Enjolras is featured in the following songs in the musical:- Look Down (called Donnez, Donnez in the original French)
- ABC Café/Red and Black (called Rouge et Noir in the original French)
- Do You Hear The People Sing? (called A La Volonté du Peuple in the original French)
- One Day More (called Demain in the original French)
- At the Barricade (Upon These Stones) (called La Première Attaque in the original French)
- Building the Barricade (called Rouge et Noir in the original French)
- Javert's Arrival
- Little People
- Night of Anguish (called L'Aube Du 6 Juin in the original French)
- Dawn of Anguish
- The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche) (called La Mort De Gavroche in the original French)
- The Final Battle
- Finale (called Epilogue: La Lumière in the original French)
Musical
- Michel SardouMichel SardouMichel Sardou is a French singer.He was born in Paris, the son of Fernand Sardou and Jackie Rollin . Contrary to claims common towards the beginning of his career, he is not the grandson of the dramatist Victorien Sardou...
, Original French Concept Album - Christian Rattelin, Original French Musical
- David BurtDavid BurtDavid Burt is a British actor, known primarily for his many and wide-ranging West End performances.Burt recently starred as the flamboyant Count Fosco opposite Yvette Robinson in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White at the Palace Theatre and was featured as Captain Andy Hawks in Show Boat at...
, Original London Cast 1985 - Michael Cantwell, London 1985
- Michael MaguireMichael MaguireMichael L. Maguire is an American actor, best known for his role as Enjolras in the original Broadway production of the musical Les Misérables. This role won him a Tony Award in 1987. It also won him a Drama Desk Award and a Theatre World Award...
, Original Broadway Cast 1987, 10th Anniversary Concert - Anthony WarlowAnthony WarlowAnthony Warlow is an Australian opera and musical theatre performer, noted for his character acting and considerable vocal range ....
, Original Australian Cast 1987, Complete Symphonic Recording 1988 - Joseph Kolinski, Broadway 1988, 1990
- Alexander Diepold, Original Austrian Cast Vienna 1988
- Todd Waite, Original Canadian Cast 1989
- Joe Locarro, Broadway 1990
- Danny de Munck original dutch cast 1991
- Julien Combey, Paris Revival 1991
- Enrique R. del Portal, Madrid 1992-1994
- Joe Mahowald, Broadway 1992
- Lawrence Anderson, Broadway 1992
- Tomáš Trapl, Original Cast Praha, 1993
- Ron Bohmer, Broadway 1994
- Gary MauerGary MauerGary Mauer is an actor who most recently starred in the third national tour of The Phantom of the Opera playing the role of the Phantom. On Broadway, Gary starred as Raoul, Vicomte de Chagney in Phantom and played the role of Enjolras in Les Misérables. He has also appeared in numerous regional...
, Broadway 1996, 1999 - Martin Berger, Original German Cast Duisburg 1996
- Robert Aaron Tesoro, Broadway 1996
- Brian Herriott, Broadway 1997
- Paul Avedesian, Broadway 1997
- Stephen R. Buntrock, Broadway 1997, 1999
- Christopher Mark Peterson, Broadway 1999, 2002, 2003
- Ben DavisBen DavisBen Davis may refer to:*Ben Davis , American entrepreneur, Founder & CEO of YummmBox, LLC.*Ben Davis , American former Major League Baseball catcher and current Atlantic League pitcher...
, Broadway 2001 - David Gagnon, Broadway 2002
- Dean Collinson, Danish Tour Cast 2003-2004
- Aaron LazarAaron Lazar-Early life and education:Lazar was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey to a Jewish family. He graduated from Cherry Hill High School West in 1994. Lazar attended Duke University where he earned a BA in music in 1998, while completing the prerequisite classes for medical school and taking the MCAT...
, Broadway Revival 2006 - Max von EssenMax von EssenMax von Essen is an American musical theatre actor and vocalist.A son of Rita and Thomas Von Essen, who was the New York City Fire Commissioner during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, he is the youngest of four children.Von Essen is a 1992 graduate of South Side High School,...
, Broadway Revival 2006 - Freek Bartels, Dutch Cast 2008
- Kevin Houle, Québec City Cast 2008-2010
- Tom LoweTom LoweTom Lowe is a writer and filmmaker from Southern California. A decorated Gulf War veteran, Lowe is best known as the author of Spin , a roman à clef based on his experience working as a political operative in California...
, Hollywood Bowl Concert 2008 - John Martin Bengtsson, Det Ny TeaterDet Ny TheaterDet Ny Teater is an established theatre in Copenhagen, Denmark, first opened in 1908. It is based in a building which spans a passage between Vesterbrogade and Gammel Kongevej in Copenhagen's theatre district on the border between Vesterbro and Frederiksberg....
, Denmark, 2009 - David ThaxtonDavid ThaxtonDavid Thaxton is a British musical theatre and opera performer. He recently starred in the Donmar Warehouse's Passion, for which he won the 2011 Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He previously appeared as Enjolras in the West End production of Les Misérables...
, London 2008-2010 - Killian Donnelly, London 2010-2011
- Ramin KarimlooRamin KarimlooRamin Karimloo is an Iranian-born Canadian musical theatre actor, recognized chiefly for his work in London's West End. He has played the leading male roles in both of the West End’s longest running musicals; the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, as of 29th...
, 25th Anniversary Concert, London Cast 2004-2005 - Jon Robyns, 25th Anniversary UK Tour 2010
- Jeremy Hays, 25th Anniversary US Tour 2010
- Daniel DigesDaniel DigesDaniel Diges García is a Spanish singer, pianist, composer and actor. Although officially born in Madrid, he has spent all his youth in Alcalá de Henares .-Life and career:...
, Madrid Revival 2010
Film and television
- Jean Angelo, 1913 Adaptation
- Paul Guidé, 1925 AdaptationLes Misérables (1925 film)Les Misérables is a French silent film based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo.-Cast:* Gabriel Gabrio as Jean Valjean* Paul Jorge as Monseigneur Myriel* Sandra Milowanoff as Fantine & Cosette* Andrée Rolane as Cosette...
- Robert Vidalin, 1934 AdaptationLes Misérables (1934 film)Les Misérables is a 1934 film adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel of the same name. It was written and directed by Raymond Bernard and stars Harry Baur as Jean Valjean and Charles Vanel as Javert...
- John CarradineJohn CarradineJohn Carradine was an American actor, best known for his roles in horror films and Westerns as well as Shakespearean theater. A member of Cecil B DeMille's stock company and later John Ford's company, he was one of the most prolific character actors in Hollywood history...
, 1935 AdaptationLes Misérables (1935 film)Les Misérables is a 1935 American drama film based upon the famous Victor Hugo novel of the same name. It was adapted by W. P. Lipscomb and directed by Richard Boleslawski... - Ugo Sasso, 1948 AdaptationLes Misérables (1948 film)Les Misérables is a 1948 Italian drama film directed by Riccardo Freda. It is based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name.-Cast:* Gino Cervi – Jean Valjean* Valentina Cortese – Fantina / Cosetta* Hans Hinrich – Javert...
- Serge ReggianiSerge ReggianiSerge Reggiani was an Italian-born French singer and actor. He was born in Reggio Emilia, Italy and moved to France with his parents at the age of eight...
, 1958 AdaptationLes Misérables (1958 film)Les Misérables is a film version of the Victor Hugo novel released in France on March 12, 1958. Written by Michel Audiard and René Barjavel, the film was directed by Jean-Paul Le Chanois... - Claudio Sora, 1964 Adaptation
- Jean-Luc Boutté, 1972 Adaptation
- Héctor Bonilla, 1973 Adaptation
- Timothy Morand, 1978 AdaptationLes Misérables (1978 film)Les Misérables is a TV film based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. The film was written by John Gay and directed by Glenn Jordan.-Differences from the novel:...
- Hervé Furic, 1982 AdaptationLes Misérables (1982 film)Les Misérables is a 1982 French drama film directed by Robert Hossein. It is one of the numerous screen adaptation of the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo.-Plot summary:...
(as Hervé Fulric) - Michael MaguireMichael MaguireMichael L. Maguire is an American actor, best known for his role as Enjolras in the original Broadway production of the musical Les Misérables. This role won him a Tony Award in 1987. It also won him a Drama Desk Award and a Theatre World Award...
, 1995 Concert - Lennie JamesLennie JamesLennie James is an English actor and playwright.-Career:James attended the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 1988...
, 1998 AdaptationLes Misérables (1998 film)Les Misérables is a 1998 film adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name, directed by Bille August. It stars Liam Neeson, Geoffrey Rush, Uma Thurman, and Claire Danes.... - Steffen Wink, 2000 Adaptation
- Ramin KarimlooRamin KarimlooRamin Karimloo is an Iranian-born Canadian musical theatre actor, recognized chiefly for his work in London's West End. He has played the leading male roles in both of the West End’s longest running musicals; the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera and Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, as of 29th...
, Les Misérables 25th Anniversary 2010
External links
- Enjolras at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Search for Enjolras at the Internet Broadway DatabaseInternet Broadway DatabaseThe Internet Broadway Database is an online database of Broadway theatre productions and their personnel. It is operated by the Research Department of The Broadway League, a trade association for the North American commercial theatre community....
- Enjolras at broadwaylesmis.com