...but his arrival at the barricades had nothing to do with The Cause. At least the ABC's were fighting for something they believed in- a new Republic. Marius wasn't fighting for anything, or to make France a kinder, gentler democracy someday. He was depressed that the girl he was interested in was moving to England and he couldn't follow her (not that he'd introduced himself to her guardian like civilized people did back then). And Grandpa G wouldn't approve of their marriage. So he was mulling over a death wish. he wanted to die quickly, and he got this message that his "friends" were waiting for him at the barricades.

What he was doing was "suicide by cop" or in this case, getting involved in a shooting match against gov't troops. He took two lives for a cause that meant nothing to him. Not badass or heroic at all.