His name has at least five different possible etymologies. He has over twenty canonical hobbies and interests in his introduction. He believes in the role of science in progress and neither affirms nor denies anything. He silences Marius in two words and sings about it. He’s a pacifist by nature but brings three guns to the barricade. He knows the specifications of a cannon but underestimates the speed of light. He implores the barricadiers to think of their families while forgetting his own mother. His values and philosophy are echoed by the narrative from start to finish, but his name is only mentioned in 28 out of 365 chapters. His vision of social progress through education and his focus on the fates of women and children make him one of the novel’s most politically serious characters, but he’s severely underexamined in academic and fan meta alike. So—what is going on with Combeferre?

In this panel, I present an analysis of Combeferre’s character through canon-era sciences, education, and social issues. We will examine how Combeferre’s narrative context helps us read Les Misérables as a whole, compile a canon-accurate reading list for the Combeferre in your life, and make sense of what the superiority of Jesus Christ over Napoleon is even about.