Les Misérables Marriage Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Part.Book.Chapter.Line)

Quote #10

"Yet it would be wrong to blame Marius. As we have said, before his marriage Marius asked no questions of Monsieur Fauchelevent, and since then he had been afraid to question Jean Valjean. (5.9.1.2)

Is Marius cruel for keeping Valjean at arm's length after his (Marius') marriage to Cosette? Well, to us he does seem cruel. But you have to remember that Valjean asked him to do it, and Marius doesn't know about all the sacrifices Valjean has made over the years. All he knows is that Valjean is an ex-con who may have murdered a police officer—so, yeah, not exactly someone you want to have at Sunday dinner.