A historical and philosophical novel set in England, its protagonist is Gwynplaine, a child whose face is deliberately disfigured to force him to smile in a terrifying and perpetual manner. The novel explores his journey through society as an outcast "jester," and how he later discovers his noble lineage and his place in the English aristocracy. Hugo uses this character to deliver a scathing critique of social and political injustice, highlighting the contrast between outward ugliness and inner purity, and between the cruelty of the wealthy and the misery of the poor.
