Do you Hear the People Sing - Les Miserables

Looking at the political situation in the historical novel Les Miserables, the song “Do you hear the people sing? ” is apparently a political song with the objective to express their disagreement towards injustices and stiff culture during those times. The character apparently struggle for redemption and revolution, and are joined by an ensemble that includes student revolutionaries, prostitutes, low class workers and other groups that are consider inferior. The first one who sang is Enjolras, a charismatic leader of a French group of revolutionary students.

In his part specially the lines “Do you hear the people sing?..

It is the music of a people/ Who will not be slaves again! ”, one can really see his belief in democratic freedom and equality. In his lines, Enjolras as a leader, rouses the revolutionaries and declares that it is now time to strike. The lines of Combeferre on the other hand suggest something attainable and practicable on how to be free. He motivates the people to join and to be involved personally as his lines says “Will you join in our crusade? / Who will be strong and stand with me? ”.

Despite their different tones and personalities manifested in their own respective lines, they all have the common aim to finally free themselves and France to different injustices due to the stiff embedded culture. They have a revolutionary tone where every word is pronounce properly and slowly with emphasis.