The Significance Of The Thenardiers In Today's Society

157 Words1 Pages
Hugo suggests that social stratification is inherently taught, not due to nature. When the girls were first introduced to each other, they played as equals and regarded each other as friends. Now, seeing how the Thenardiers treat Cosette, Eponine and Azelma treat Cosette differently. The Thenardiers treat her like a dog, so they view her as one. She almost doesn’t seem human, evidenced by the scene when Cosette stole one of their dolls, “The two little girls stopped, stupefied; Cosette had dared to take the doll” (Hugo pg. 148). This can be seen in our own society in regards to the gap between the rich and the poor. The rich see the poor with disdain, while the poor view the rich with envy. The poor are treated just like Cosette is treated