The well-known 19th-century French poet and writer Victor Hugo is renowned for his deep understanding of society and human nature. His assertion that contemplation entails examining shadows is among his most provocative concepts.

Picture yourself standing in a room with limited light coming in through small windows. You observe how objects create intricate, long shadows on the floor and walls as you look around. Although these shadows are not the primary subject, they do convey a significant message about the forms and shapes of objects in our environment. They allude to something more profound than first glances.

Hugo goes on to say that thinking about these shadows in our thoughts and experiences is similar to contemplation. We begin to see underlying patterns and meanings that may not be immediately obvious when we take the time to think about and contemplate the complexities of life. Deep thinking reveals hidden facets of reality, much like a shadow can show an object's contours when light is shining from various angles.

Hugo encourages us to investigate the less evident aspects of our lives in order to gain a deeper understanding of the world. By reflecting, we interact with the shadows in both the outside world and ourselves, gaining understanding that improves our outlook on life.

Hugo demonstrated this idea in works such as "Les Misérables" and "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame," where he explored human emotions and societal issues in depths that transcended simple descriptions. His writings frequently reveal a deep understanding of the shadows that shape our experiences, both real and imagined.

Victor Hugo essentially exhorts us to welcome the practice of introspection as a way to see beyond what first meets the eye. It involves paying close attention to life's shadowier facets and realizing that there are important truths there just waiting to be unearthed.