So long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, decrees of damnation pronounced by society, artificially creating hells amid the civilization of earth, and adding the element of human fate to divine destiny; so long as the three great problems of the century-the degradation of man through pauperism, the corruption of woman through hunger, the crippling of children through lack of light-are unsolved; so long as social asphyxia is possible in any part of the world;-in other words, and with a still wider significance, so long as ignorance and poverty exist on earth, books of the nature of Les Misérables cannot fail to be of use.
Victor Hugo emphasizes that as long as societal laws and customs create conditions of suffering and despair—establishing metaphorical "hells" on Earth—critical societal issues such as poverty, hunger, and ignorance will persist. The relentless challenges of human degradation, particularly affecting the most vulnerable like women and children, highlight the urgent need for change. This suggests that these social issues are interlinked and demand attention for true progress to occur.
Furthermore, Hugo asserts that literature, especially works like Les Misérables, remains essential in addressing such societal injustices. They serve to shed light on the plight of the oppressed and inspire empathy and action among those who read them. As long as there are disparities resulting from ignorance and poverty, these narratives hold power, urging society to confront and resolve these ongoing struggles.
