d he continued correspondence with his wife, his “dear, great friend.” During a break a break in his literary career, Victor turned to politics. Over the years he had converted from his mother’s devout royalist views to more of a Republican position. He began to advocate his views in public, and because of his severity he was exiled for some time. With him he took his mistress, Juliette Drouet, and his wife, Adele Hugo. Victor’s family and Mademoiselle Drouet lived with him together throughout his period of exile. (Now isn’t that something for Jerry Springer?)In 1868, when Victor was 66 years old, his beloved Adele died. Though there is not much documentation illustrating his feelings about the death of his wife, he no doubt endured a great deal of suffering. He had lost his other half, the one person that knew him far better than anyone ever could. He continued to write fervently, publishing an enormous amount in the following decade. However, in 1878 Hugo experienced a devastating stroke. He no longer could write, and his wife and children were dead. In 1883 his long time mistress and friend, Juliette Drouet passed away. Victor was literally left with nothing. “Oh Memories! Treasures in darkness born! Murky horizon of our ancient dreams! Dear brilliance of a past that brightly beams! Casting a radiance on things dead and gone” (Hugo 116)! Now, it’s interesting to wonder if Victor Hugo lying on his deathbed thought of these words that he had once spoken. Did he look back the memories of his life? Surely he did. The dreams that he once had of becoming a writer, of sharing a deep and passionate love with Adele Foucher, of moving the world with his ideas – did these dreams come true, and are they dead and gone? Three million people attended the funeral of Victor Hugo. Though it was thought that he would be laid to rest near the grave of his father or perhaps his long-time mistress, Vic...
