Was there a voice that whispered in his ear that he had just passed the most solemn moment of his destiny, that there was no longer a middle course for him; that from now on, he would either be the best of men or he would be the worst of men; that he now had to rise higher, so to speak, than the bishop or fall even lower than the galley slave; that if he wanted to be good, he had to be an angel; that if he wanted to stay bad, he had to be a monster from hell?
The quote reflects a pivotal moment in the character's journey, emphasizing the profound choices he faces. It suggests that he has reached a critical point where there is no middle ground; he must commit to the path of moral elevation or descent. This internal struggle highlights the duality of human nature, where one can aspire to greatness or succumb to darkness.
This tension illustrates the overarching themes of redemption and moral ambiguity present in Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables." The character is confronted with the harsh reality that he must strive for the highest ideals of goodness or risk embracing a corrupt existence. Thus, this moment encapsulates the fundamental struggle between good and evil within the human soul.
