I desire to forget life. Life is a hideous invention of I know not whom. It lasts no time at all, and is worth nothing. One breaks one's neck in living. Life is a theatre set in which there are but few practicable entrances. Happiness is an antique reliquary painted on one side only. Ecclesiastes says: 'All is vanity.' I agree with that good man, who never existed, perhaps.
In this excerpt from "Les Misérables," Victor Hugo expresses a deep disillusionment with life, portraying it as a painful and fleeting experience. He likens life to a flawed theatrical performance where true happiness is merely a facade, suggesting that happiness is ultimately illusory and superficial. His reflections echo the sentiment from Ecclesiastes that suggests all pursuits are in vain, revealing his profound existential despair and skepticism about the meaning of existence.
Hugo's remarks underscore a struggle against the unbearable nature of life, which he views as designed to cause suffering. He articulates a desire to escape from this reality, indicating a sense of hopelessness about finding genuine fulfillment. Through this passage, he invites readers to examine the deeper questions of existence and the often painful journey of living. This contemplation resonates with the philosophical inquiry into the nature of happiness and the human condition.
