About Enjolras

Early Life

Enjolras was born in 1810 to a wealthy family from southern France. He was an only child. He went to Paris as a student.

Appearance

He was "angelically beautiful" in a wild way. He had "the body of a page, long fair lashes, blue eyes, that hair flying in the wind, rosy cheeks, pure lips, exquisite teeth." He also had "a deep eye, slightly red lids, thick underlip, readily disdainful, and a high forehead." Although he is 22 in 1832 (at the onset of the revolution), he has the looks of 17, childish but serious. His eyes were "thoughtful" and reflect his contemplation. He is compared to Antinous and Apollo and has a Greek profile.

Personality

 He truly loved liberty and represented "the logic of the revolution."  He is the uncontested leader of the Friends of the ABC (Friends of the People). He was an inspiring speaker, inserting metaphors into his speeches. In conversation, he often uses silence to his advantage. He was quite belligerent, a true soldier, always brave and always loyal. He felt deep compassion and showed deep mercy. He was not arrogant and he shared power--leadership always seemed to find him. He was thoughtful. 

Relationships

Enjolras had no relationship with women--he didn't even know they existed--claiming the republic was his mother and that "fatherland" was his mistress (meaning he's a virgin). Grantaire only received "haughty pity" and was always "treated rudely by Enjolras, harsly repelled, rejected" although Grantaire venerated and loved Enjolras. When Enjolras gave Grantiare a chance to prove himself, Grantaire made no effort, despite his pleas for such a chance. Enjolras clashed with Marius over Napoleon Bonaparte. Marius, because of his admiration for his father, likes Bonaparte, but Enjolras fights for no tyranny, whether from a king or an emperor. He scolded Bahorel for tearing down a paper from a Paris bishop, saying that it wastes energy; Bahorel immediately responded that it the excitement made him gain energy. He didn't give Gavroche a gun, citing the fact that aren't even enough for the men, but sends him out to scope out the enemy. 

Actions

Enjolras lead the Friends of the ABC, a secret society of students. (ABC comes from the pronunciation of the French word "abaisse" which mean "the lower down" or "the abased" They had meetings in two locations: "near the Halles in a bistro called Corinth" and "near the Pantheon in a little cafe on the Place Saint-Michel, called Le Cafe Musain." In Le Cafe Musain, they had a secret room with "two windows and an exit by a private stairway." Enjolras remained silent during certain conversations. He dispatched different members of the Friends of the ABC to fan the flames of the Parisian laborers; Grantaire begged to go and Enjolras let him, only to find Grantiare playing games. Enjolras is armed with a double barreled shotgun. Enjolras sent a gamin called Navet to fetch Laigle, Joly and Grantaire for General Lamarque's funeral, but Joly had a cold and Grantaire was apathetic, so the trio stayed and drank in the wine shop instead. 

At the barricade

Enjolras, Combeferre and Courfeyrac directed the construction of the two barricades near the Corinth. Enjolras brought in a box of cartridges and arranged for three sentinels to stand outside the barricade. He asked Gavroche to slip through the barricade as a spy, and Gavroche revealed that one of the men behind the barricade was Javert. Enjolras questioned the man and had him tied up. He told Javert that he will be executed "ten minutes before the barricade is taken" as the rebels economize powder; he will not stab Javert, however, because they have acted as "judges, not assassins" in arresting him. One of the revolutionaries, Le Cabuc, shot an innocent man; Enjolras forced him to kneel and gave him one minute to "Pray or think" before executing him. He then gave a speech, saying he condemned Le Cabuc to death, but condemned his own actions in executing Le Cabuc as well, and that someday, men would no longer have to kill each other,  in punishment or otherwise. When Gavroche returned to the barricade, warning of the arrival of the army, Enjolras gave him Javert's musket. 

The battle

Enjolras signaled the first rounds of shots be fired by shouting, "The French Revolution!" In a fierce volley, several men are wounded and the flag falls. Enjolras asked for a volunteer to hoist the flag, and M. Mabeuf volunteers. Although Father Mabeuf didn't believe in overthrowing the king, Enjolras cites his bravery to rally the young students. As Enjolras helped take Father Mabeuf's body inside, Gavroche cried out as Municipal Guards, their bayonets drawn, rushed the barricade. Enjolras hailed Marius as a leader after Marius saved the barricade from the Municipal Guards by threatening to blow up a powder keg. Enjolras and Combeferre planned to trade Prouvaire for Javert under a flag of truce, but they heard Prouvaire shout "Vive la France" before he was executed. During the night, Enjolras lead the men in repairing the barricade, making it higher and cleaning it, making bullets and cartridges, caring for the wounded (including two wounded men from the Municipal Guards). He put M. Mabeuf's coat up as their flag. He advised for all to have a few hours of sleep and forbade any drinking. Enjolras went out to scope the situation, and finding that Paris was not rising to rebellion, tells the barricade of the dismal outlook and encouraged the barricade. He instructed all men with wives, children or mothers to leave the barricade, offering them uniforms from the dead Guardsmen. Enjolras then gave an inspiring speech about the beauties of a tomorrow, of equality, of free education, of peace. At Javert's complaints, Enjolras helped him drink, and ties him in a more comfortable position.The next morning, Enjolras allowed everyone brandy and took his position. When Enjolras is forced to shoot a young, student at a cannon, he shed a tear. Enjolras carefully conserved men and ammunition. 

The final charge

Enjolras gave orders to build up the Corinth, fortifying the windows with paving stones. He granted Valjean's request to execute Javert. The barricade was charged by the National Guard, and Enjolras alone was untouched by a bullet. Enjolras protected all of the remaining men as they rush into the Corinth, the last one to enter. The fight lasted until Enjolras alone was standing, and still he was feared. He dropped his musket (which he had been using as a club) and bared his chest bravely to the point that they were afraid to shoot him. Grantaire, awoken from his drunken stupor, shouted "Vive la Republique!" and asked to be executed with Enjolras. Enjolras gave his permission and they were shot together. The barricade fell.