What is the historical setting in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, and why is it essential to the overall themes?

The years following the French Revolution were hardly
peaceful. The poor still felt oppressed and many government factions were still fighting
for power. Les Misérables is set during the
1800s, which were full of moments of political unrest. The novel
primarily focuses on what is called the June
Rebellion, or the Paris Uprising of
1832.

The uprising, just
as the novel depicts, was led by Republican student societies, just like the ABC. Many
problems led up to the revolt, particularly the treatment of the
poor. The years 1827 to 1832 were years of famine with crop failures.
Plus, the economy failed, driving prices up, increasing the cost of living. Not only
that, all of Europe suffered a cholera outbreak, and in France, the poorest
neighborhoods were hit the hardest by the epidemic. This served as enough proof for the
citizens that the poor were still being treated unfairly. The June revolt was first
inspired by workers' revolts, such as the 1831 Canut revolt of silk factory workers in
Lyon. The most significant catalyst for the rebellion, however, was the
death of political hero Jean Maximilien Lamarque who died
on June 1st of cholera. Lamarque was a member of Parliament and became leading critic of
the new constitutional monarchy under Louis Phillippe; he was therefore
supported by republicans. Citizens began to see his death
by cholera as a sign of upper class mistreatment, leading to the revolt. Students
intercepted Lamarque's funeral procession and took it to the Place de la Bastille where
the 1832 rebellion broke out.

General Lamarque's
funeral is mentioned in Les Misérables, just after
Marius has lost Cosette due to her removal from the Rue Plumet and just before the
uprising at the barricades is described. When Marius learns Cosette will soon be leaving
for England, he throws himself down on his bed after wandering the streets until
midnight and is awakened by Courfeyrac asking, "Are you coming to General Lamarque's
funeral?" (Vol. 4, Bk. 9, Ch. 2).

Also part of the real historic
event is that the students set up barricades in the streets
surrounding Paris's historic center, Faubourg Saint-Martin. The ABC set up a barricade
in the Rue de la Chanvreri, which was indeed historically
accurate.

The novels historic setting helps portray the
themes of injustice and the
need for mercy and redemption so prevalent in the
book.