In that pallid and sullen shadow in which he crawled, whenever he turned his head and endeavoured to raise his eyes, he saw, with mingled rage and terror, forming, massing, and mounting up out of sight above him with horrid escarpments, a kind of frightful accumulation of things, of laws, of prejudices, of men, and of acts, the outlines of which escaped him, the weight of which appalled him, and which was no other than that prodigious pyramid that we call civilization.
In this passage from Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables," the protagonist experiences a profound sense of despair as he navigates through the oppressive weight of civilization. The imagery of a vast, foreboding pyramid symbolizes the overwhelming nature of societal structures, laws, and human behavior that he feels trapped beneath. His emotions are a mix of rage and terror, indicating the conflict between his desire for freedom and the suffocating reality of the world around him.
The protagonist's struggle highlights the burdens that come with civilization, as its complexities and injustices rise above him, creating a sense of helplessness. The accumulation of societal expectations and prejudices looms large, instilling a fear of what is to come and a questioning of one's place within such a daunting framework. This reflection underscores the themes of despair and the human condition that Hugo explores throughout the narrative.
