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Summary “The Man Who Laughs” Hugo

1. Ursus

Ursus with the wolf Homo earn a living by entertaining visitors to fairs. A stray sixty-year-old philosopher is engaged in ventriloquism, fortune-telling, healing with the help of plants, playing comedies of his own composition and playing musical instruments. Guianas wolf from the breed of canoe-dogs shows different tricks and is a friend and likeness of their master. The Ursus lagoon is decorated with useful sayings: on the outer side there is information about the abrasion of gold coins and the scattering of precious metal in the air; inside, on the one hand – a story about English titles, on the other – consolation for those who have nothing, expressed in the transfer of property of certain representatives of the English nobility.

2. Compasses

Komprachikosy was a community of vagabonds that existed in the 17th century, which almost sold children legally and made them freaks for the fun of the public. It consisted of people of different

nationalities, spoke a mixture of all languages and was an ardent supporter of the Pope. Jacob II treated them patiently in gratitude for the fact that they supplied the royal household with live goods and were comfortable with the highest nobility in the removal of heirs. He came to replace Wilhelm III of Orange took up the eradication of the tribe of kompprichikosov.

Part one. The night is not as black as man

The winter of 1689-1690 was very cold. At the end of January, an old Biscayan urchal moored to one of Portland’s bays. Eight men loaded chests and foodstuffs to Matutin. They were helped by a ten-year-old boy. The ship sailed away in great haste. The child was left alone on the beach. He accepted without a murmur what had happened and set off on the highland of Portland.

At the top of the hill the child stumbled upon the decaying remains. Hanging on the gallows the corpse of the tarred smuggler made the boy stop. The crow rained against the terrible specter and the wind rose and frightened the child and drove away from the gallows. In the beginning, the boy fled, then, when fear

in his soul turned into courage, stopped and went slowly.

Part two. Urca in the sea

The author acquaints the reader with the nature of the snowstorm. The Basques and the French on the merk are happy to sail, prepare their food. Only one old man frowns at the starless sky and reflects on the formation of winds. The owner of the vessel is talking with him. The doctor, asks to call him an old man, warns about the onset of a storm and says that you need to turn to the west. The shipowner listens.

Urka falls into a snow storm. Floating on her hear the sound of the bell, set in the middle of the sea. The old man predicts the death of the ship. The raging storm tears off the external rigging from the hurricane, carries the captain into the sea. The lighthouse warns the ship that lost control of the inevitable death. People in time manage to push off the reef, but on this maneuver they lose a single paddle log. On the rocks of Ortakh, the Urka once again miraculously escapes collapse. From death to Orinia, the wind saves her. The snow storm ends as suddenly as it began. One of the sailors discovers that the hold is full of water. The luggage and all heavy objects are dropped from the ship. When there is no hope, the doctor offers to pray to ask the Lord for forgiveness for the crime committed against the child. People on the ship sign a paper read by the doctor and hide it in a flask.

Part Three. A child in darkness

A lonely child wanders through a snowstorm along the Portland Isthmus. Stumbling upon the female footprints, he follows them, and finds in the snowdrift a dead woman with a nine-month-old girl. Together with the baby boy comes to the village of Weymet, and then to the town of Melcombe-Regis, where he is greeted by dark locked houses. The child finds shelter in the Ursus cart. The philosopher shares his dinner with him, and gives the milk to the girl. While the children are sleeping, Ursus is burying a dead woman. In the light of day, he discovers that the boy’s face is mutilated by an eternal smile, and the girl’s eyes are blind.

Part one. The past does not die; in people reflects a person

Lord Linney Clencharli, a convinced Republican, lived on the shores of Lake Geneva. His illegitimate son, from a noble lady who later became the mistress of Charles II, Lord David Derry-Moir was the bed-keeper of the king and was a lord of “courtesy.” After the death of his father, the king decided to make him a true lord in return for a promise to marry the Duchess of Josiana (her illegitimate daughter) when she reaches adulthood. The society turned a blind eye to the fact that in exile Lord Clencharli married the daughter of one of the republicans – Anne Bradshaw, who died at birth, having produced a boy – a real lord by birth.

Josiana, at twenty-three years old, never became the wife of Lord David. Young people preferred independence to marriage. The girl was a cute virgin, intelligent, internally corrupted. David had a large number of mistresses, asked fashion, was in many English clubs, was a judge in boxing matches and often spent time among the common people, where he was known by the name of Tom-Jim-Jack.

The then-ruled country Queen Anne did not like her half-sister because of the beauty, attractive bridegroom and almost similar origin – from the mother of the uncorrelated blood.

The jealous lackey of James II, Barkilphedra, left out of business, gets the place of the otkuporschika ocean bottles in the Department of Marine finds through Josiana. Over time, he enters the palace, where he becomes the beloved “pet” of the queen. For the favor shown to him, Barkilphedra begins to hate the duchess.

At one of the boxing matches, Josian complains to David over boredom. A man proposes to entertain her with the help of Guinplain.

Part two. Guinplain and Act

In 1705, twenty-five-year-old Guinplain with an eternally laughing face is working as a fiddler. It causes laughter in everyone who sees it. Together with laughter unknown “sculptors” endowed him with red hair and mobile gymnasts joints. Sixteen-year-old Dey helps him in his speeches. Young people are infinitely lonely towards the world, but they are happy with each other. Their platonic relations are pure, their love is so strong that they deify each other. Dey does not believe in the ugliness of Guinplein: she believes that if he is good, then he is beautiful.

Unusual appearance of Guinplein brought him wealth. Ursus changed the old wagon to a spacious “Green Box”, hired two gypsy maids. For his theater on wheels, Ursus began writing interludes, in which the whole troupe, including the wolf, was involved.

Guinplain from the scaffold observes the poverty of the people. Ursus tells him about his “love” for the lords, and asks not to try to change the unchanging, but to live peacefully and enjoy Dei’s love.

Part Three. The occurrence of a crack

In the winter of 1704-1705, the “Green Box” performs at the Tarinsofield fairground, located in the vicinity of London’s Southwark. Guinplain is very popular with the public. Local fiddlers lose their spectators and, together with the clergy, begin the persecution of artists. Ursus is summoned for questioning by a commission monitoring the content of publicly spoken speeches. After a long conversation, the philosopher is released.

Lord David under the guise of a sailor becomes a frequent visitor to Guinplain’s speeches. One evening, the duchess appears on the show. It makes an indelible impression on all present. Guinplain falls in love with Josiana for a moment.

In April, the young man begins to dream of carnal love with Deya. At night, the groom sends him a letter from the duchess.

Part Four. Underground wall

The written love confession of Josiana plunges Guinplein into confusion. He can not fall asleep all night. In the morning he sees Deyu and ceases to be tormented. Artist’s breakfast is interrupted by the arrival of the bogus. Ursus, contrary to law, follows a police escort leading Guinplen to Southwark prison.

In the dungeon, the young man participates in “interrogation with the imposition of weights”. The criminal recognizes him. The sheriff informs Guinplena that he is Lord Ferman Klencarli, the peer of England.

Part Five. The sea and fate are obedient to the same winds

The sheriff reads Guinplain’s confession, written by the compasses shortly before his death. Barkilphedro offers the young man to “wake up.” It was from his submission to Guinplain that the title of lord was returned. Queen Anne thus avenged the beautiful sister.

After a prolonged fainting, Guinplain regains consciousness at the court residence of Corleone Lodge. He spends the night in vain dreams of the future.

Part Six. The Cases of Ursus

Ursus returns home, “rejoicing” that he got rid of two cripples. In the evening, he tries to deceive Dey, imitating the voices of the crowd, watching a non-existent performance, but the girl feels the absence of Guinplan in her heart.

The master of the circus suggests Ursus to buy from him a “Green Box” with all the contents. The policeman brings old things to Guinple. Ursus runs to Southworth prison, sees how the coffin is taken out of her, and cries for a long time.

The bailiff demands that Ursus and Homo leave England, otherwise the wolf will be killed. Barkilphedro says that Guinplain is dead. The hotel host is arrested.

Part Seven. Woman Titanium

Trying to find a way out of the palace, Guinplain stumbles upon the sleeping duchess. The girl’s nudity prevents him from moving. Waking up, Josian showered Guinplain with caresses. Having learned from the letter of the queen that the young man is destined for her husband, she drives him away.

In the chambers of Josian comes Lord David. Guinplain is summoned to the queen.

Part eight. Capitol and its environs

Guinplain is introduced into the English House of Lords. The short-sighted Lord Chancellor William Cowper was shortsighted, and the old and half-blind lord-bearers did not notice the apparent ugliness of the newly-made peer.

The gradually filling House of Lords is filled with rumors of Guinplain and a note by Josiana intended for the queen, in which the girl agrees to marry the fish and threatens to take in lover David’s lover.

Guinplain opposed the increase in the annual content of a hundred thousand pounds sterling Prince George – the Queen’s husband. He tries to tell the House of Lords about the misery and suffering of the people, but he is laughed at. Lords mock and mock the young man, not letting him talk. Guinplain predicts a revolution that will deprive her of knowing her provisions and give all people the same rights.

After the meeting, David chastises the young lords for disrespect for the new lord and challenges them to a duel. Guinplain, he slaps for insulting his mother and also offers to fight not for life, but for death.

Part Nine. On the ruins

Guinplain runs through the whole of London to Southwark, where he meets an empty Tarinsofield square. On the bank of the Thames, the young man reflects on the misfortune that befell him. He understands that he has exchanged happiness on the mountain, love for debauchery, a real family for a murder brother. Gradually he comes to the conclusion that in the disappearance of Deja and Ursus, he himself is guilty, having taken the title of lord. Guinplain decides to commit suicide. Before jumping into the water, he feels Homo licking his hands.

The conclusion. Sea and night

Wolf leads Guinplein to the Dutch schooner “Vograat.” The young man hears Ursus talking to Deia, sleeping on the mattress. A waking girl says that she will soon leave after Guinplain. In delirium, she sees herself at the presentation of the Green Box and begins to sing. Guinplain puts the worker in a suit and goes to Dea. The girl’s heart does not stand sudden happiness. Guinplain begs her to stay with him, on the ground, says that during the last day he lived a lifetime and realized that its meaning lies in her – in Deja. The girl is dying. Ursus faints. Guinplain jumps from the schooner into the water to connect with the beloved after death. When the philosopher comes to himself, he sees on the deck of one Homo.