In Victor Hugo's "Fantine" from Les Miserables, the author laments the relentless progression of human society and the profound losses experienced along the way. He speaks to the harsh realities faced by individuals who fall victim to social injustice, as the legal system often overlooks their suffering. The ocean becomes a metaphor for this overwhelming despair, where the marginalized are discarded without assistance, leading to a moral decay within society.

The imagery of the sea symbolizes a vast expanse of misery, suggesting that once one's spirit is submerged in this turmoil, the chance for revival or redemption seems bleak. Hugo questions who can restore hope to those lost in such depths of despair, highlighting the cruelty of the penal laws that condemn individuals to a fate akin to drowning in an unforgiving ocean of wretchedness.