“It is through excess of greatness that man reaches excess of misery.”
The Man Who Laughs“It is through excess of greatness that man reaches excess of misery.” is the epigraph to the chapter “In Ruins.” Its decisive force comes from the contrast it establishes: greatness is no guarantee of happiness, and may instead accompany extreme suffering. The chapter places the maxim above Gwynplaine’s hurried escape through dark Southwark and his urgent desire to see Dea.
Wording and Placement
The epigraph links two extremes, greatness and misery, in a causal formulation: excess in the first reaches excess in the second. It appears as the chapter’s opening statement, before the narrative turns to Gwynplaine crossing London Bridge at midnight and entering Southwark in his embroidered silk coat, sword, and white-plumed hat. The grandeur of his clothing and status stands against the darkness and disorientation of his flight.
Narrative Function
The chapter presents Gwynplaine as making his escape without knowing where he is, while his immediate longing is to see Dea. Against that scene, the maxim gives his apparent elevation a tragic counterweight: outward distinction has not quieted his distress or displaced his attachment. Its placement makes the chapter title, “In Ruins,” resonate as more than a description of escape; greatness and ruin are held together from the outset.
