You know, that quote I reblogged not long ago (“Remember, there are two ways to dehumanize someone: by dismissing them, and by idolizing them”) quite nicely leads into a discussion of E/R as well, actually:

Because I’ve often heard people say that Grantaire was much more in love with Enjolras the idea than Enjolras the person, and to some extent that might be true, perhaps to R Enjolras represents the brighter future he can’t make himself completely believe in, or represents something he finds greater than himself at least. And Hugo outright says that Grantaire ‘venerated’ Enjolras, so there’s that.

So does R actually dehumanise (in a loose sense) E through idolising him? Maybe a little. Remember when Enjolras yells at Grantaire for being drunk at the barricade and Grantaire just looks at him “with indescribable gentleness”- doesn’t yell back, doesn’t really defend himself that much? That’s not healthy behaviour, especially since Enjolras’s assessment of him is extremely harsh and a little cruel.

BUT: then we have OFPD. And Grantaire wakes up to see Enjolras covered in blood, and at the point of a gun and about to die. Surely, surely he must see him as human now- he’s failed, just like Grantaire failed, he’s lost the battle and he’s about to lose his life. And Grantaire still goes to him, still cries out when he could’ve gotten away. I don’t think he’d have done that if he was only in love with the idea and not the man, after all, it was the man who was dying. I think they both died seeing each other as people, as people who were absolutely worthy of love, rather than disdain or veneration…