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{{work}}
{{work}}
{{Infobox book
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[[File:TMWL.jpg|frame|His love is real, but his smile is not.]]
| title = The Man Who Laughs
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A 1869 [[Victor Hugo]] novel.
| original title = L'Homme qui rit
| image = TMWL.jpg
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| caption = His love is real, but his smile is not.
| author = Victor Hugo
| central theme =
| elevator pitch =
| genre =
| publication date = April 1869
| source page exists =
| wiki URL =
| wiki name =
}}
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'''''The Man Who Laughs''''' is a 1869 [[Victor Hugo]] novel.


The eponymous protagonist, Gwynplaine, bears a face disfigured by torture into a [[Glasgow Smile|permanent smile]]. As a child, it was done to him in order to punish him for his nobleman father's offense to the king. One night, after being abandoned in the snow, Gwynplaine wanders aimlessly, seeking shelter. He comes across the corpse of a woman who had frozen to death underneath a dead man hanging from a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbet gibbet]. In her arms, he finds a still living, blind baby girl. Eventually, Gwynplaine comes to the home of the charlatan [[Meaningful Name|Ursus]] and his wolf companion [[Meaningful Name|Homo]]. Ursus has pity upon the two orphan children and takes them in.
The eponymous protagonist, Gwynplaine, bears a face disfigured by torture into a [[Glasgow Smile|permanent smile]]. As a child, it was done to him in order to punish him for his nobleman father's offense to the king. One night, after being abandoned in the snow, Gwynplaine wanders aimlessly, seeking shelter. He comes across the corpse of a woman who had frozen to death underneath a dead man hanging from a [[wikipedia:Gibbet|gibbet]]. In her arms, he finds a still living, blind baby girl. Eventually, Gwynplaine comes to the home of the charlatan [[Meaningful Name|Ursus]] and his wolf companion [[Meaningful Name|Homo]]. Ursus has pity upon the two orphan children and takes them in.


Several years later, we see that the group have been making a living traveling from place to place performing plays which all showcase Gwynplaine revealing his disfigured, smiling face to the crowd. The blind child has also survived, growing up to be the virtuous, graceful beauty known as Dea. Dea is in love with Gwynplaine who, though he reciprocates, feels unworthy of her because of his disfigurement.
Several years later, we see that the group have been making a living traveling from place to place performing plays which all showcase Gwynplaine revealing his disfigured, smiling face to the crowd. The blind child has also survived, growing up to be the virtuous, graceful beauty known as Dea. Dea is in love with Gwynplaine who, though he reciprocates, feels unworthy of her because of his disfigurement.
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Upon doing a show at a village fair, Gwynplaine attracts the attention of the bored, sexy duchess Josiana. He soon gains even more attention from the Queen Anne as it is found out that Gwynplaine is the son and heir to Lord Linnaeus Clancharlie's position and estate.
Upon doing a show at a village fair, Gwynplaine attracts the attention of the bored, sexy duchess Josiana. He soon gains even more attention from the Queen Anne as it is found out that Gwynplaine is the son and heir to Lord Linnaeus Clancharlie's position and estate.


The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing [[Downer Ending]]. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured [[Looks Like Cesare|Conrad Veidt]] as the main character, whose [[Slasher Smile|freakish grin]] and [[Monster Clown|clown-like]] appearance was the primary inspiration for [[The Joker]], which came full circle in 2005 with "Batman: The Man Who Laughs", the sequel to [[Batman Year One]].
The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing [[Downer Ending]]. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured [[Looks Like Cesare|Conrad Veidt]] as the main character, whose [[Slasher Smile|freakish grin]] and [[Monster Clown|clown-like]] appearance was the primary inspiration for [[The Joker]], which came full circle in 2005 with ''Batman: The Man Who Laughs'', the sequel to ''[[Batman: Year One]]''.
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=== ''The Man Who Laughs'' contains examples of: ===


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{{tropelist}}
* [[Aristocrats Are Evil]]: And how.
* [[Aristocrats Are Evil]]: And how.
* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Saintly Dea who loves Gwynplaine in spite of his deformity, or glamourous Josiana who wants him ''[[Nightmare Fetishist|because]]'' [[Nightmare Fetishist|of his deformity]]?
* [[Betty and Veronica]]: Saintly Dea who loves Gwynplaine in spite of his deformity, or glamorous Josiana who wants him ''[[Nightmare Fetishist|because]]'' [[Nightmare Fetishist|of his deformity]]?
* [[Blind and The Beast]]
* [[Blind and the Beast]]
* [[Break the Cutie]]: Dea and Gwynplaine's idealism.
* [[Break the Cutie]]: Dea and Gwynplaine's idealism.
* [[The Cutie]]: The helpless and innocent Dea.
* [[The Cutie]]: The helpless and innocent Dea.
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* [[Meaningful Name]]: "Dea" (Goddess), "Ursus" (Bear), "Homo" ([[Have a Gay Old Time|Stop snickering]], it means Human).
* [[Meaningful Name]]: "Dea" (Goddess), "Ursus" (Bear), "Homo" ([[Have a Gay Old Time|Stop snickering]], it means Human).
** Also a [[Punny Name]] with Homo (who's a wolf): "Man is a wolf to man".
** Also a [[Punny Name]] with Homo (who's a wolf): "Man is a wolf to man".
* [[Non Human Sidekick]]: Homo the wolf.
* [[Non-Human Sidekick]]: Homo the wolf.
* [[Slasher Smile]]: Although Gwynplaine's not a bad guy, he sports a permanent one.
* [[Slasher Smile]]: Although Gwynplaine's not a bad guy, he sports a permanent one.
* [[Snicket Warning Label]]: If you want a happy ending, just stop reading when Dea proclaims her love to Gwynplaine. Trust me.
* [[Snicket Warning Label]]: If you want a happy ending, just stop reading when Dea proclaims her love to Gwynplaine. Trust me.
** In fact, that's where the movie ends.
** In fact, that's where the movie ends.
* [[Star Crossed Lovers]]: Dea and Gwynplaine. At least in the novel...
* [[Star-Crossed Lovers]]: Dea and Gwynplaine. At least in the novel...
* [[Team Dad]]: Ursus.
* [[Team Dad]]: Ursus.


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[[Category:Films of the 1920s]]
[[Category:Films of the 1920s]]
[[Category:Horror Films]]
[[Category:Horror Films]]
[[Category:Nineteenth Century Literature]]
[[Category:Literature of the 19th century]]
[[Category:Universal Horror]]
[[Category:Universal Horror]]
[[Category:The Man Who Laughs]]
[[Category:The Man Who Laughs]]
[[Category:Trope]]
[[Category:Multiple Works Need Separate Pages]]
[[Category:French Literature]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Man Who Laughs, The}}
[[Category:Literature]]
[[Category:Film]]

Latest revision as of 01:03, 3 May 2021

The Man Who Laughs
His love is real, but his smile is not.
Original Title: L'Homme qui rit
Written by: Victor Hugo
Central Theme:
Synopsis:
First published: April 1869
v · d · e

The Man Who Laughs is a 1869 Victor Hugo novel.

The eponymous protagonist, Gwynplaine, bears a face disfigured by torture into a permanent smile. As a child, it was done to him in order to punish him for his nobleman father's offense to the king. One night, after being abandoned in the snow, Gwynplaine wanders aimlessly, seeking shelter. He comes across the corpse of a woman who had frozen to death underneath a dead man hanging from a gibbet. In her arms, he finds a still living, blind baby girl. Eventually, Gwynplaine comes to the home of the charlatan Ursus and his wolf companion Homo. Ursus has pity upon the two orphan children and takes them in.

Several years later, we see that the group have been making a living traveling from place to place performing plays which all showcase Gwynplaine revealing his disfigured, smiling face to the crowd. The blind child has also survived, growing up to be the virtuous, graceful beauty known as Dea. Dea is in love with Gwynplaine who, though he reciprocates, feels unworthy of her because of his disfigurement.

Upon doing a show at a village fair, Gwynplaine attracts the attention of the bored, sexy duchess Josiana. He soon gains even more attention from the Queen Anne as it is found out that Gwynplaine is the son and heir to Lord Linnaeus Clancharlie's position and estate.

The original novel follows a path similar to many of Hugo's other novels, ending in a depressing Downer Ending. Though not the author's most well-known work, there have been several film versions of the story (only one of which is in sound). The most well-known and best remembered adaptation is the heart-wrenchingly beautiful 1928 movie. It featured Conrad Veidt as the main character, whose freakish grin and clown-like appearance was the primary inspiration for The Joker, which came full circle in 2005 with Batman: The Man Who Laughs, the sequel to Batman: Year One.

Tropes used in The Man Who Laughs include:
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