There a many similarities between A Tale of Two Cities and Les Miserables that can be shown well in a comparison of the song "One Day More" to various themes and symbols used in Dickens' book. Many have to do with revolution, sacrifice, and love, some of the common occurrences in both stories.
In A Tale of Two Cities, the story is told with the main characters Lucie Manette, Charles Darnay, Sydney Carton, Dr. Manette, and Madame and Monsieur Defarge. A string of events leads to a gruesome, crazed revolution, led by the Defarges, and Darnay, the Manettes, and Carton all get tied up in the chaos of it. In the end, Madame Defarge dies, the Manettes and Darnay flee to safety, and Sydney Carton sacrifices himself at the guillotine in Darnay's place, so that Lucie can be happy and stay with the man she loves (Darnay). It is a thrilling tale of secrets, murder, betrayal, revolution, sacrifice, and in the end, love.
Les Miserables is a musical set in Revolutionary France, though slightly later than A Tale of Two Cities. The story leads through the life of an escaped-convict-turned-mayor (who is actually an honest and caring man) and those around him. The man's name is Jean Valjean, and the rest of the characters are Cosette, Marius, Javert, Éponine, Enjorlas, and Monsieur and Madame Thenardier. In order, they are, Valjean's adopted daughter, a revolutionary leader, the officer pursuing Valjean's arrest, Marius's best friend and secret adorer, the head leader of the revolution, and two innkeepers who lie and pickpocket for a living. (Monsieur is referred to as "Master of the House"). Tragedy starts to unfold, Valjean gets closer to being caught, revolution begins again, and love blooms between Cosette and Marius, leading to a dramatic story filled with tough decisions and sacrifice. (And lots of singing.)
"One Day More" Lyrics From Les Miserables
[VALJEAN] One day more! Another day, another destiny. This never-ending road to Calvary; These men who seem to know my crime Will surely come a second time. One day more! [MARIUS] I did not live until today. How can I live when we are parted? [VALJEAN] One day more. [MARIUS & COSETTE] Tomorrow you'll be worlds away And yet with you, my world has started! [EPONINE] One more day all on my own. [MARIUS & COSETTE] Will we ever meet again? [EPONINE] One more day with him not caring. [MARIUS & COSETTE] I was born to be with you. [EPONINE] What a life I might have known. [MARIUS & COSETTE] And I swear I will be true! [EPONINE] But he never saw me there! [ENJOLRAS] One more day before the storm! [MARIUS] Do I follow where she goes? [ENJOLRAS] At the barricades of freedom. [MARIUS] Shall I join my brothers there? [ENJOLRAS] When our ranks begin to form [MARIUS] Do I stay; and do I dare? [ENJOLRAS] Will you take your place with me? [ALL] The time is now, the day is here [VALJEAN] One day more! [JAVERT] One day more to revolution, We will nip it in the bud! We'll be ready for these schoolboys, They will wet themselves with blood! [VALJEAN] One day more! [M. & MME. THENARDIER] Watch 'em run amuck, Catch 'em as they fall, Never know your luck When there's a free for all, Here's a little 'dip' There a little 'touch' Most of them are goners So they won't miss much! [Students (2 Groups)] [1:] One day to a new beginning [2:] Raise the flag of freedom high! [1:] Every man will be a king [2:] Every man will be a king [1:] There's a new world for the winning [2:] There's a new world to be won [ALL] Do you hear the people sing? [MARIUS] My place is here, I fight with you! [VALJEAN] One day more! [MARIUS & COSETTE] I did not live until today. [EPONINE] One more day all on my own! [MARIUS & COSETTE] How can I live when we are parted? [JAVERT (overlapping)] We will join these people's heroes We will follow where they go We will learn their little secrets, We will know the things they know. [VALJEAN] One day more! [MARIUS & COSETTE] Tomorrow you'll be worlds away [EPONINE] What a life I might have known! [MARIUS & COSETTE] And yet with you my world has started [JAVERT (overlapping)] One more day to revolution We will nip it in the bud We'll be ready for these schoolboys [THENARDIERS (overlapping)] Watch 'em run amok Catch 'em as they fall Never know your luck When there's a free-for-all! [VALJEAN] Tomorrow we'll be far away, Tomorrow is the judgement day [ALL] Tomorrow we'll discover What our God in Heaven has in store! One more dawn One more day One day more! |
Heather McNaughton4/14/15 |