GRANTAIRE

the skeptic • a carrd by vince

GRANTAIRE, known by friends as R, was born into a southern Parisian family in the early nineteenth century. Noted for being the one skeptic among the Friends of the ABC, Grantaire believes in nothing save for Enjolras, who is his primary reason for joining the society. A former art student-turned-skeptical drunkard, Grantaire has fallen from grace and has a pessimistic outlook on the world. He ridicules all devotion under any circumstances, save for his own tender devotion to both his friends and the leader of the revolution.

CANON MATERIAL

p e r s o n a l i t y

Although Grantaire is commonly referred to as cynical among fans, I would argue that is a slight misrepresentation. To be cynical suggests a conscious and consistent distrust in others, which contradicts with Grantaire’s wholehearted love and trust for his friends. Though his view of the collective human race may be cynical, his attitude towards the Friends of the ABC is skeptical. He has faith in them as human beings, but he is plagued with too much hopelessness and self-doubt to buy fully into their ideas himself. He admires their passion, but he worries their aspirations may lead them to an early demise.Despite the overconfident air he puts on for his friends, his self-esteem is actually low, going hand-in-hand with aforementioned self-doubt. Accordingly, he believes that he is ignorant, despite his vast knowledge about a multitude of literature, history, and mythology. He is highly intelligent and well-educated; however, it tends to go to waste the longer he sits idly in a haze of wine and self-pity. He may demonstrate slivers of his intellect's true extent in long, loud, drunken rambles, but for the most part, it sits uselessly in his brain. He truly has potential if only he could unlock it.He cares a great deal more than he lets on; for example, he claims to not care for the revolution while insisting on aiding it. His introduction claims the rights of man are meaningless to him, yet he has them memorized. He "[takes] great care to believe in nothing", but that isn't to say he doesn't care about anything. He tends to irritate his zealous companions with his outward apathy; however, they tolerate him for his good humor. He does not believe in the cause of the ABC, but he attends the meetings nonetheless for the social aspect. He is closest with Joly and Bossuet, but his favorite among the Friends is Enjolras. He "love[s], admire[s], and venerate[s] Enjolras," drawn to his passion. Enjolras provides Grantaire with a moral backbone he otherwise lacks; next to him, Grantaire becomes meaningful again.

h o b b i e s

Grantaire has a wide variety of canonical hobbies: gymnastics, dancing, kickboxing, stick-fighting, and tennis. If we interpret his word literally, he is also a former art student, having studied under Antoine-Jean Gros. I would like to unpack what each of these hobbies entail in the nineteenth century.

STICK-FIGHTING

Stick-fighting is exactly what it sounds like. Canne de combat is a French variant of stick-fighting used for self-defense using a cane, originating in the early nineteenth century. It was most common for upper-class men to learn in larger, unsafe cities such as Paris. Considering that Grantaire is upper-class, Parisian, and from the early nineteenth century, my best bet is that Grantaire practices this particular form of stick-fighting.Other translations say that Grantaire is an excellent cudgeler, a type of duel wherein the goal is to draw blood from the opponent's head, face, or neck. He is a master at the single stick, another name for a cudgel. If this translation is to be believed, Grantaire may very well earn his money from cudgeling. Certain competitions would pay upwards of 40 shillings to its victor, though I am struggling to translate shillings to sous or francs to determine what, exactly, that would mean for Grantaire.

KICKBOXING / SAVATE BOXING

French kickboxing, also known as savate or French footfighting, is a combat sport combining English boxing methods with graceful kicking techniques, having also originated from the early nineteenth century. Considering that the first establishment for savate was opened in 1825, it likely was not very widespread by 1832; Grantaire was possibly one of the earlier tieurs, or male practitioners of savate. At some point, stick-fighting was incorporated as part of savate training, tying the two sports together -- possibly why Grantaire partakes in both.

TENNIS

Tennis was largely popular among members of the French nobility, but considering the mass execution of the French nobility after the first revolution, tennis players were not particularly common in 1832. Still, there were some players of both sexes. Games were played with a ball and a wooden racquet, held in walled courts - some with a roof, some without. The tennis courts were easily converted to theatres and thus appealed to traveling companies, who sometimes temporarily converted courts into performance spaces. Additionally, tennis was closely related to gambling, leading into his next hobby:

GAMBLING

Primarily among the upper class, card games became popular in 1720-1770. Cards displayed the same images of kings we see today. Originally, the rich would meet in restaurants and casinos to play various card games of their choice. In the eighteenth century, however, gambling became more widespread as owners of various social joints saw an opportunity in it.

GYMNASTICS

Having originated in Ancient Greece and survived throughout the centuries, gymnastics as we know it has undergone many changes. In the early nineteenth century, there were two kinds of gymnastics (as we know it today): natural gymnastics, practiced for health benefits, and artificial gymnastics, practiced for grace and performance. Sometimes, gymnastics were used to train athletes. Familiar tools for gymnastics today were used then: the pommel horse, parallel bars, the balance beam, horizontal bars, and such. Additionally, rope climbing and climbing poles were also created and used in training.At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the word "gymnastics" included any kind of physical activity. Therefore, I reckon Grantaire may or may not have been a gymnast as we know it today. However, I figure that if I am analyzing his canonical hobbies or potential canonical hobbies, I may as well cover my bases.

ART

While the rest of Grantaire's hobbies are canonical, his studying of art was perhaps not intended to be interpreted literally. He claims to have been a student of Antoine Jean-Gros and to have, instead, spent his time stealing apples -- which may have been intended to be metaphorical. Gros did not align himself with the revolution; additionally, he was afflicted by depression and went on to die by suicide. Victor Hugo may have used Gros to exemplify Grantaire's mental state. Grantaire is not a reliable narrator, so this particular piece of information should be taken with a grain of salt.However, if we are to interpret his word literally:-- He does not identify as an artist nowadays, but he likely once did.
-- In order to study under Gros, Grantaire must have had prior training.
-- Historical paintings were considered the highest form of painting, followed by portraits, genre paintings, landscapes, and finally still life.
-- Gros was a neoclassical and pre-romantic painter; ergo, Grantaire would have studied those particular styles.

t e x t

“Among all these passionate hearts and all these undoubting minds there was one skeptic. How did he happen to be there? From juxtaposition. The name of this skeptic was Grantaire, and he usually signed with this rebus: R. Grantaire was a man who took good care not to believe in anything” (Hugo 652).
ㅤ“However, this sceptic had one fanaticism. This fanaticism was neither a dogma, nor an idea, nor an art, nor a science; it was a man: Enjolras. Grantaire admired, loved, and venerated Enjolras. To whom did this anarchical scoffer unite himself in this phalanx of absolute minds? To the most absolute. In what manner had Enjolras subjugated him? By his ideas? No. By his character. A phenomenon which is often observable. A sceptic who adheres to a believer is as simple as the law of complementary colors. That which we lack attracts us. No one loves the light like the blind man. The dwarf adores the drum-major. The toad always has his eyes fixed on heaven. Why? In order to watch the bird in its flight. Grantaire, in whom writhed doubt, loved to watch faith soar in Enjolras. He had need of Enjolras. That chaste, healthy, firm, upright, hard, candid nature charmed him, without his being clearly aware of it, and without the idea of explaining it to himself having occurred to him” (Hugo 652-653).
ㅤ“I’d like a drink. I desire to forget life. Life is a hideous invention of somebody I don’t know. It doesn’t last, and it’s good for nothing. You break your neck simply living” (Hugo 660).
ㅤ“Such a pity I’m ignorant or I’d quote you a mass of things, but I don’t know anything. For instance, I was always bright; when I was a pupil of Gros, instead of daubing pictures, I spent my time pilfering apples. So much for myself; as for the rest of you, you’re just as good as I am. I don’t give a damn about your perfections, excellences, and good qualities. Every good quality runs into a defect; economy borders on avarice, the generous are not far from the prodigal, the brave man is close to the bully” (Hugo 660).
ㅤ“Man is wicked, man is deformed; the butterfly has succeeded, man has missed. God failed on this animal. … Yes, I have the spleen, in addition to melancholy, with nostalgia, plus hypochondria, and I sneer, and I rage, and I yawn, and I’m tired, and I’m bored, and I’m tormented! Let God go to the Devil!” (Hugo 663).
ㅤ“What about me?’ said Grantaire. ‘I’m here.’
“‘You?’
“‘Yes, me.’
“‘You? Rally Republicans! You? In defence of principles, fire up hearts that have grown cold!’
“‘Why not?’
“‘Are you capable of being good for something?’
“‘I have the vague ambition to be,’ said Grantaire.
“‘You don’t believe in anything.’
“‘I believe in you.’
“‘Grantaire, will you do me a favour?’
“‘Anything. Polish your boots.’
“‘Well, don’t meddle in our affairs. Go and sleep off the effects of your absinthe.’
“‘You’re heartless, Enjolras.’
“‘As if you’d be the man to send to the Maine gate! As if you were capable of it!’
“‘I’m capable of going down Rue des Grès, crossing Place St-Michel, heading off along Rue Monsieur-le-Prince, taking Rue de Vaugirard, passing the Carmelite convent, turning into Rue d’Assas, proceeding to Rue du Cherche-Midi, leaving the Military Court behind me, wending my way along Rue des Vieilles-Tuileries, striding across the boulevard, following Chaussée du Maine, walking through the toll-gate and going into Richefeu’s. I’m capable of that. My shoes are capable of that.’
“‘Do you know them at all, those comrades who meet at Richefeu’s?'
“‘Not very well. But we’re on friendly terms.’
“‘What will you say to them?’
“‘I’ll talk to them about Robespierre, of course! And about Danton. About principles.’
“‘You?’
“‘Yes, me. But I’m not being given the credit I deserve. When I put my mind to it, I’m terrific. I’ve read Prudhomme, I’m familiar with the Social Contract, I know by heart my constitution of the year II. “The liberty of the citizen ends where the liberty of another citizen begins.” Do you take me for a brute beast? I have in my drawer an old promissory note from the time of the Revolution. The rights of man, the sovereignty of the people, for God’s sake! I’m even a bit of an Hébertist. I can keep coming out with some wonderful things, watch in hand, for a whole six hours by the clock.’
“‘Be serious,’ said Enjolras.
“‘I am wild,’ replied Grantaire” (Hugo 847-849).
⠀

HEADCANON MATERIAL

r e l a t i o n s

GREAT GRANDFATHER
François Grantaire
deceased ; 1737-1806GRANDFATHER
Jacques Grantaire I
deceased ; 1761 - 1790GRANDMOTHER
Marguerite Grantaire (née Baudelaire)
deceased ; 1766 - 1830FATHER
Jacques Grantaire II
alive ; 1799 - 1850MOTHER
Lucienne Grantaire (née Auclair)
alive ; 1781 - 1857BROTHER
Jacques Grantaire III
alive ; 1807 - 1834SISTER
Mireille Beaufoy (née Grantaire)
deceased ; 1812 - 1830BROTHER-IN-LAW
Maximillen Beaufoy
deceased ; 1803 - 1830NEPHEW
Carolus Beaufoy
deceased ; 1828 - 1830

b a c k s t o r y

DARCEL FRANÇOIS ANTHONY GRANTAIRE was the secondborn of Jacques II and Lucienne Grantaire in the south of Paris on November 17, 1810. As a child, he was always bright, inclined towards the arts and a multitude of literature; however, he lived in the shadow of his elder brother, Jacques III. While Grantaire excelled in literature, mathematics went right over his head (-- ironic for the son of a math professor); meanwhile, Jacques III excelled across the board. This earned his brother the praise and affection from their mother and father that Grantaire was seldom on the receiving end of. His younger sister, Mireille, was born two years after him. Overshadowed by a brilliant older brother and a baby sister who needed tending to, Grantaire tended to be emotionally neglected during his developmental years, leading to much of his emotional instability later in life.Being members of the petite bourgeoisie, the family lived comfortably enough. While not quite being rich, their living situation was certainly more favorable than many others in the country. They lived in a cozy third floor apartment on the Rue Danton. Grantaire did not particularly get along with either of his siblings, frequently bickering with both of them (usually, he started aforementioned arguments, finding from an early age that the best way to get attention was by causing a stir); however, he was naturally protective of his younger sister, holding the mindset that no one could upset her except for him. His affections, however, did not much extend to Jacques III, whom he viewed as not only a brother, but as a rival.In the mornings of their youths, the three siblings woke around seven in the morning. Their mother prepared them breakfast, hot milk and bread, then packed their lunches for the day in metal lunch pails while they dressed themselves. Then, unaccompanied, they walked two miles to a stuffy schoolhouse that taught all grades, first through eighth, in one room heated by a fireplace. Being taught in the same room as Jacques III, Grantaire silently envied his excellence. In contrast to his brother, Grantaire tended to talk out of turn and be rowdy, which led to corporal punishment under harsh disciplinary rules. Despite finding joy in obtaining new information and devouring books, he loathed the environment of school. It seemed that, whether at home or in the schoolhouse, he was perpetually compared to his brother in some way or another.He coped with reading. He lost himself in the multitudes of words and pages, as it permitted him to let his mind wander from his own life for a while. The result was an extensive self-education on various mythologies and world history. A book about Agatharchus, a self-taught Greek painter of the fifth century BC, inspired him to begin painting at age eight. He was naturally gifted, and it quickly evolved into his favorite hobby. At eleven, he was introduced to another favored hobby: stick-fighting. Seeing as Jacques III was soon to graduate, Grantaire’s father insisted that he learn some sort of self-defense for his long walks to school in the morning; as a result, he picked up a new sport and martial art. He found that the inherent physicality of stick-fighting aided him in releasing his excess frustration, stress, and energy. He dedicated himself to mastering the craft. This soon led to the exploration of various other sports and athletics, such as gymnastics and tennis. In every activity he partook, he shone; however, due to his own low self-esteem stemming from the lack of emotional support in his youth, he continually doubted his own skill.At thirteen, Grantaire graduated primary school, and per his family’s expectations, sought secondary education in the form of college. He was eager to move away from home and into the dormitory provided to him, craving independence. He specialized in classical studies, and although being formally taught to paint in college was not an option, his father reluctantly indulged him in private art lessons to easier enroll him into a proper art academy after his graduation. College provided him with the opportunity to meet a considerable amount of new people, and he socially blossomed. Others his age were drawn to his loud mouth and skepticism of authority. For a time, Grantaire seemed bright.At seventeen, two notable events occured:The first, Grantaire’s younger sister eloped with a man, Maximillen Beaufoy, and moved to England. He had not maintained close contact with Mirielle (or any members of his family, for that matter), so the news came as a surprise to him that she would wed so abruptly and young; however, when news of a child emerged only months later, he understood. The child, his nephew, was named Carolus. He desired to meet Carolus someday; however, considering that they now lived in England, distance separated them. He did not make haste to visit them. After all, he had upcoming exams that would determine his ability to graduate. He figured he would simply wait until the time was right.The second, a new pupil entered the club he frequented for stick-fighting. The pupil in question was a wealthy young man his own age who sought to pick up the skill as a means of self-defense before he left for university. The boy’s name was Enjolras, and because there were no other inexperienced members of the club at that time, he faced off with Grantaire. Needless to say, Enjolras lost repeatedly; however, he admired the sheer talent and coordination Grantaire possessed. In their lighthearted banter, the two became friends. They began to talk outside of stick-fighting; what Enjolras lacked in close combat fighting skills, he accounted for in passion. Grantaire became enthralled with Enjolras’s ideals, considering he had none of his own, and eagerly listened to the other speak. They became close. Inevitably, though, their graduations soon approached. Enjolras went off to a university to study law; Grantaire collected his baccalauréat diploma and enrolled in a private art academy. The two parted ways, losing contact.Grantaire remained studying art in the south of Paris. He did not often visit his hometown, and he settled in a fourth floor apartment on the Rue des Grés. A fresh chapter of his life ensued wherein he met new people and explored new hobbies. His stick-fighting club was now some miles away, so he picked up new hobbies, such as kickboxing and cudgeling. He earned his money this way, a combination of art sales and partaking in sports matches with a cash prize. It became physically and mentally exhausting on occasion, so he began to spend his time at clubs and bars to let himself recharge with a lively environment and alcohol. He continued this way for some time.During this period, he befriended Bahorel, a law student whom he met through boxing. The two got along very well. Grantaire enjoyed his humor, and they shared their tendency to only take a select few things seriously. Grantaire spent his time chatting up all kinds of people in several establishments of the area, but he frequented two locations in particular:
— The Café Musain, being very close to his own apartment.
— The Corinthe, having excellent stuffed carps and a kind owner, Father Houchelop, with whom he usually chatted when he stopped by.In the academy, Grantaire studied under Antoine Jean-Gros, and he did fine; however, he did not particularly excel. To the untrained eye, Grantaire’s paintings were remarkable, but in such an environment surrounded by other artists, he couldn’t help but compare himself. He began to skip his classes, regarding his art with less seriousness for the sake of evading his own self-doubt. During the classes he skipped, he pilfered apples from fruit walls, finding little thrills in harmless misdeeds.One afternoon, Grantaire lunched in the Café Musain, and at a table, he spotted a familiar face: Enjolras, his friend from his final year of college. The two shared a table and filled each other in on the time they had been apart. They spent that evening conversing; by the time they returned to their respective homes, it was almost as if they had never parted ways.Meanwhile, unrest stirred in the heart of France under Charles X. Between the dissolution of the National Guard, Parliament, and Chamber of Deputies, in addition to the censorship of the press and the revocation of 75% of electorates’ votes, the July Revolution sparked in 1830. Over 4,000 barricades rose. What began as riots ended as a revolution and the cessation of the Bourbon dynasty. Enjolras had encouraged Grantaire to take up arms with him; however, Grantaire remained neutral until the Three Glorious Days had passed, along with his opportunity to do something meaningful.It seemed the world was not the same afterwards. Tension hung in the air. The battle had ended, yet the war for freedom still lingered in armistice. Secret societies took form, and Enjolras, himself, was behind the creation of one: Les Amis de l’ABC, or The Friends of the ABC. Recruiting young men to unite, Enjolras entreated Grantaire to join him, an opportunity to redeem his lack of participation in the recent revolution. Grantaire accepted; in fact, he even coordinated with Father Houchelop of the Corinthe to allow them meetings in his space. The young men took to each other, bonded by the shared passion for a new world. Grantaire, lacking their passion, felt somewhat of an outsider, but the other men appreciated his good humor and welcomed him to learn. Grantaire became accustomed to pretending to care about their politics for the sake of being in their presence.In January of 1831, Grantaire received a letter from his father carrying the heavy weight of tragedy: Mirielle, along with her husband and son, had contracted scarlet fever and passed away weeks prior. Grief overtook him. He had taken his family for granted, and his favored sibling no longer walked the Earth. He would never meet young Carolus. He lamented his inability to turn back time and do things differently. Rather than changing the course of his future to involve his family, however, he fell into such a state of sorrow that he isolated from them entirely. At night, he stayed out later and later, numbing his mind with alcohol and roaming the streets with a perpetual emptiness in his heart. For the first time, he did not wish to socialize.By the time he returned to meetings for the Society of the Friends of the ABC, he had lost his ability to feign interest in their cause. He had developed an alcohol dependency; he never seemed sober. His state of perpetual intoxication led to brain fog, and he did nothing to contribute to the group. He had once been bright, but alcohol drowned out his flame. His friends sympathized with him, but he became louder and more disruptive while they attempted to work. They tolerated him increasingly less, and Enjolras’s frustration with him grew. It became a frequent occurrence for Grantaire to be scorned by Enjolras amidst their meetings; however, he returned each time. With his rapidly declining mental health, Enjolras became his light in the night. Grantaire became entirely void of passion; it was only Enjolras who could make him feel anything meaningful. It was only Enjolras who Grantaire believed in. Enjolras, who had once held faith in Grantaire, detested what he had become; however, he attempted to believe that Grantaire’s behavior was a temporary result of his grief, and that time would restore him to his former self.The decline of his mental health led to the end of his education. His insecurity in his art became too much to bear, and he entirely dropped his classes, believing himself to be good at nothing. Due to his limited familial communication (their talk had almost entirely ceased, and he scoffed at any commitment, even to his own blood), his parents remained ignorant of his dropout - something that Grantaire did not intend to change. His parents still sent him a monthly allowance, hoping he may respond to one of their letters, but he never did. Without art, he did not know what would become of his future. He didn’t even bother to think about a future of any form anymore. It seemed that nothing mattered.With time, Grantaire began to rebuild himself. He found the strength to live again, but his depressive episode had been like a hurricane: it left his self-esteem in ruins as it departed. He began to smile and laugh again. He could joke - there was no doubt about it - but he maintained a pessimistic view of the world and especially of his own potential. He relied heavily on alcohol, and his only pleasures came from brief encounters with random girls and The Friends of the ABC. None of his hobbies brought him joy anymore, but he continued matches of boxing and cudgeling for the sake of making money.One August afternoon, Grantaire accompanied his friends to La Glacière for a speech Enjolras was to deliver to the people. While Enjolras spoke to a crowd of around twenty, a child heeded his words and clung to them. The child, he would learn, was named Gavroche, and he eagerly sought after Les Amis to voice his agreement and his own ideas. He was initially dismissed on account of his age, but Grantaire, finding amusement in the concept of such a young revolutionary, insisted that they heed his words. While he originally only humored Gavroche to chuckle at what insight a boy his age would have to offer, he was quickly struck by the fact that Gavroche actually possessed more than two brain cells in his head. His passion radiated, and Grantaire, being void of passion, was drawn to it. He took to overseeing Gavroche, who wished to involve himself in the world of revolutionaries as much as humanly possible. Though he scoffed at commitment to any family, he found himself caring deeply, like an elder brother, for the boy.In late November of 1831, The Friends of the ABC convened to discuss an important matter: the canut strike that had evolved into an uprising of workers. Enjolras specifically instructed Grantaire not to show up intoxicated, and Grantaire swore he would not. He broke his promise. Enjolras rebuked him, loudly shamed him in the presence of his peers, and commanded him to leave the meeting. That day, Enjolras lost any faith in Grantaire. Grantaire still revered and admired him; Enjolras, meanwhile, treated Grantaire almost like a stranger. As a believer, Enjolras condemned the skeptic; as a sober man, he condemned the drunkard. In stark contrast, Grantaire viewed Enjolras as flawless, and he relied upon him to feel even vaguely like himself before tragedy.