and were separated. This event proved to be another trying time for Gueux; he was faced with one of the most imperative decisions of his life. Gueux saw no option but to fight for the right to be reunited with his companion. He tried reasoning with the warden by expressing his deep desire to rejoin his comrade, but this proved to be futile, for the warden was the one who originally sought for the two to be separated. After trying relentlessly, Gueux had two decisions; one, let the wardens’ decision stand and wait his time out; two, force the warden to see his view regardless of the means. Much like Gueuxs' reasoning the first time he chose to commit an act of crime, this time he saw very few choices. While there are other ways of getting what one wants, Gueux was left with the solitary choice to threaten the warden and if he did not conform he would be killed. Was Gueux in his right mind when he killed the warden? Yes, Gueux was perfectly sane; he made the choice to kill due to the fact that all that he had known and valued in his life was gone. His family had fallen apart after his incarceration and he was now lonely once again with his dearest companion torn away from him. I believe that when humans are placed in such a strenuous situations, and have had a life full of strife, they hold their only assets very close and dear to the heart. Thus making the sacrifice all the more great in order to retain them. In the case of Claude Gueux, he had nothing left in his life except for his fellow inmate. When this was taken away, so was his drive and desire for life. This is the reasoning that led him to kill the warden; he would rather die than live without his companion. Hugos’ stance of a man and his natural disposition, good or evil, is much like the one I express. He drives this point in at the end when Gueux tells the jury, “I am a murderer, I am a thief; but I ask you, gentlemen of the jury, why did I kill? Why did I s...
