Let us have compassion on the chastised. Alas! Who are we ourselves? Who am I who now address you? Who are you who are listening to me? And are you very sure that we have done nothing before we were born? The earth is not devoid of resemblance to a jail. Who knows whether man is not a recaptured offender against divine justice? Look closely at life. It is so made, that everywhere we feel the sense of punishment.
In this reflection from Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," there is a deep call for compassion towards those who suffer consequences for their actions. The speaker questions our own identities and pasts, prompting us to consider if we too have faced judgment or punishment before our existence. This perspective encourages empathy regarding the experiences of others, reminding us that none of us are free from flaws or missteps.
Hugo draws an analogy between life and imprisonment, suggesting that the world may function similarly to a jail, where individuals serve sentences for past offenses. He emphasizes that life is often permeated with a sense of punishment, urging us to scrutinize our own lives and the actions of others with a compassionate lens. Ultimately, it is a plea for understanding and kindness towards those who have been chastised, as we all share in the human experience of fallibility.
