Les Miserables, “Light and Dark” (via heavenshallremember)

This is one of the passages that always comes to mind when there’s a suggestion that it is Enjolras’ decision they remain and perish, and that he bears responsibility for all those deaths. Enjolras is brutally honest with them - he gives them an accurate appraisal of their situation, exactly what forces are arrayed against them, and tells them they have nothing to hope for. And it is the men themselves who tell him that they shall remain, and he carries out their will, trying to keep them alive as long as possible. Against his personal feelings, he takes on the responsibility of killing the artillery officer. When they run for the Corinth, he shields them with his own body. Even when they do tell him they want to remain, he insists on sending away men with dependants.

This is why some of the characterisations of Enjolras in fanfic, and in online discussion, annoy me so much.

(via edwarddespard)