Les Miserables

800 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Insight of les miserables

In Les Miserables, Victor Hugo portrays human nature in a neutral state. Humans are born with neither good nor bad instincts, but rather society affects our actions and thoughts. Hugo portrays the neutral state of mind through Jean Valjean and Cosette. The two extremes of good and evil are represented through Thénardier and the bishop. Good and evil coexists in the society and affects Valjean and Cosette. It is the two extremes of good and evil that dictate the lives of Valjean and Cosette. The bishop represents charity and love. Everything he's ever had, he gave to charity. When the bishop first met Valjean, he said, "You need not tell me who you are. This is not my house; it is the house of Christ. It does not ask any comer whether he has a name, but whether he has an affliction. You are suffering; you are hungry and thirsty; be welcome. And do not thank me; do not tell me that I take you into my house..... whatever is here is yours." (pg. 15-16) The bishop didn't look at him as a convict; he looked at him as a fellow brother. Later, when the bishop found out that Valjean stole his silver, he wasn't mad, but offered all of his silver to Valjean saying, "Don't forget that you promised me to use this silver to become an honest man." Thénardier, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of the bishop. He represents the corruptive nature of society. He's the one that changes people for the bad. An example of how Thénardier represents greed and evil is how he...

Show More
Related

  • The Role Of Giving In Victor Hugo's Les Miserables

    625 Words  | 2 Pages

    Giving is an activity that people do every day. Receiving something in return tends to be the motivation for people to be generous. Very few people in this world will actually donate their time, effort, or money without acquiring a service or gift in return. The author of Les Misérables, Victor Hugo, knew of one of these magnanimous and charitable people. Inspired by all the altruistic deeds he has seen and heard about, Hugo created the Bishop of Dignes. The Bishop of Dignes time and time again demonstrates what it means to be a selfless Christian through his actions.

    Read More

  • How Did Chinese Immigration Change Canada

    574 Words  | 2 Pages

    Over the last century, Canada’s stance on immigration has changed drastically, from the Chinese Immigration Act of 1923, to the changes made to Canada’s immigration policy after the Second World War , to the chain of events that have lead to Canada becoming the multicultural country that it is today.

    Read More

  • Rocky Horror Picture Show

    888 Words  | 2 Pages

    It was a cool, crisp November evening, while five teenagers were hustling and bustling around my house excitedly getting ready for their very first showing of the live version of their all time favorite movie. They knew it would be the best night of their lives. The night of my 15th birthday party, my friends and I all piled into my parents car around 11:00 PM and headed off down the road to the Heights Theater. The movie we are about to see is an all time classic. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is the best cult film of all time. The movie has all the three basic elements it should have. It has funny audience participation, wonderful acting, and a great story line.

    Read More

  • Multiculturalism in Canada

    659 Words  | 2 Pages

    Multiculturalism" is the existence of a culturally diversified society where people from different backgrounds and races come and live together. However an insight of this integrated society reveals that everyone seems to have a different opinion on the issue of how this diverse community should operate. One of the countries of North America called "the mosaic" is Canada. It has earned this distinct name because of the mix of races, cultures and ethnicities residing in it. Canada's geographical features and its harsh climate became a disadvantage to its population growth many years ago. Compared to its size, the population of Canada was not sufficient a few decades ago. However, when immigrants wandered about searching for a better lifestyle, Canada's population naturally increased and became more diverse when large groups of people from different parts of the world began to settle in the region. Since than the great debate of multiculturism has been going on. Some of the vital issues are states’ political policies, attitudes of canadian’s towards these policies, immigration, global ...

    Read More

  • Jean Valjean Vs Javert

    1042 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is a saying that many people us, and it states that no two people are alike. People may not be exactly the same, but there can be numerous similarities that come about through their personalities. The characters of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables seem to be completely different from one another. No two characters come across in the same manner. They all have their own way of expressing emotions, but to the surprise of many readers, some of them were meticulously related. The ones that were the closest related were the two that seemed to contradict the most with one another. Throughout the novel, the actions, thoughts, and words showed that there were many parallels between Jean Valjean and Javert because of their love and devotion the law

    Read More

  • Great Expectations

    1435 Words  | 3 Pages

    The title of this novel is Great Expectations and was written by Charles Dickens. Dickens wrote and set this novel in near the mid-1800 in London, England. Great Expectations is about a young, common boy named Pip that blossoms into a gentleman with high expectations of himself.

    Read More

  • Multicultural In Canada

    117 Words  | 1 Pages

    The Second World War was the most important event that shaped Canada today. During the war, not only the English and Frenches people contributed themselves to the war, the minorities groups who despite begin treated with disrespect and contempt also contributed themselves. Their action has brought recognition and equality for themselves and advanced the idea of multicultural in Canada. Since WWII, Canada had changed in various ways towards immigration and different cultural groups. Injustice action and laws against racial groups such as the Head Tax are eliminated and apologized by the government. Although small prejudice and discrimination are yet a slight concern. Overall, Canada and its people have revolutionized the country in a more multicultural

    Read More

  • How Does Shakespeare Present Hermia In A Midsummer Night's Dream

    1977 Words  | 4 Pages

    As the play opens, the reader is told the setting and basis of the play and this is that the Duke, Theseus, is going to marry the Queen of the Amazons, Hippolyta, in five days time. Also Shakespeare also tells of most the characters in the play to set up who will be in the play. In the beginning of the play Hermia is brought to the Duke by her father Egeus to be judged, but this brings upon a problem considering that Hermia is already in love with Lysander despite her fathers disapproval. Egeus wants Hermia to marry Demetrius and if she does not she will die unless she wants her whole life to be lived by one of a virgin. From this Hermia decide to run away to the woods outside of Athens where they can be happy.

    Read More

  • The Stranger, by Albert Camus

    656 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...according to him, a man who is morally guilty of killing his mother severs himself from society in the same way as a man who raises a murderous hand against the father who begat him.” This quote is telling how society input their feelings and ideas onto Meursault. The persecutor compares Meursault emotionless and lack on remorse for his killing the same as a person killing their own father. Society believes Meursault as an emotionless killer or a stranger to society’s morality, Meursault then can’t explain why he couldn’t feel any emotion, drives, or thoughts of remorse for his murder. Lastly, when the chaplain visits Meursault against his wishes, this scene showed how society expects everyone to ask for forgiveness from god when near death. Meursault then thinks it is absurd and refused to believe in him because he says it’s ridiculous and there’s no time at all.

    Read More

  • Les Miserables

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    Victor Hugo made it so that the characters in Les Miserables progressed throughout the novel. The theme “progress” can be seen and used widely. Three main characters, Jean Valjean, Cossette, and Javert expressed positive and negative forms of growth.

    Read More

  • Xenophobia In Canada

    815 Words  | 2 Pages

    Canada is known as the land of new beginnings, where people go to start a better life for themselves and their families. With much to offer to newcomers, including the promises of safety, security and healthcare, the vast selection of jobs and education, and an overall high quality of living, many immigrants have chosen and will continue to choose Canada as their new home country. As a Nation we take pride in accepting and embracing multiculturalism - often being referred to as a country of cultural mosaic in contrast to the idea of the American ‘melting pot’. This twenty-first century view of Canada overlooks our shallow and ill-advised past, much the same way as it disregards the subtle discrimination that still exists for some today. Although

    Read More

  • Les Miserables, Theme (forgiveness, Self Sacrifice, And Courage)

    991 Words  | 2 Pages

    First off, is the element of forgiveness. In a book of mistrust, poverty, and hate…forgiveness thrives in the world of Les Miserables. The first example of this was at the very beginning, when Jean Valjean stayed with the bishop. Valjean stole his silver…and ran off. He ends up being caught by police, but when the police questioned the bishop, he claimed to have given the silver to Valjean. Jean was confused…and the bishop claimed that with the silver, he had purchased the convicts soul, and had given it to God, and from that day forward, Valjean must be a good man. Another example of forgiveness goes two ways. Javert, in his relentless pursuit of Valjean, is captured by revolutionaries. In reward for saving the lives of a few of these revolutionaries, Valjean asks for, and gets, permission to take Javert outside, and kill him. Once outside, a small monologue occurs…and Valjean releases Javert, and lets him go free. Valjean just wanted to be left alone in peace, and hoped this act of kindness would change Javert, and make him realize that Valjean was no longer the man he was. The second way…is that in the end, after Javert finally captures Valjean, he lets him go. Since Javert had broken the law… that he loved so dearly, he kills himself shortly thereafter, by jumping into a river.

    Read More

  • One Hundred Years of Solitude

    1050 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Races condemned to one hundred years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on this earth (Marquez 417),” Gabriel Garcia Marquez makes these powerful last words in One Hundred Years of Solitude ring true. Marquez demonstrates through many examples that human beings cannot exist in isolation. In order for the race to survive, people must be independent. Examples of solitude are found throughout the one hundred year life of the Buendia family and Macondo. Solitude in OHYOS reveals both physical and emotional aspects by being shown individually, geographically, and romantically. Although they have no control over it, the intent of the characters reflects the want to remain alone. Their destiny signifies the forgotten and alone.

    Read More

  • The Transformation of Jean Valjean Exemplified in Les Miserables

    632 Words  | 2 Pages

    All humans have different morals that change based on their environment and circumstance. Jean Valjean, in the novel Les Miserables(1961), changes from someone with confused morals to a man with more morals than most whom with respect learns to love and share.

    Read More

  • Multicultralism

    735 Words  | 2 Pages

    Multiculturalism in Canada has finished cultural differences, racial discrimination and communication gap. Culture of an individual is based on their values, beliefs and traditions which cannot be modified by anyone. As this is their personal matter. Differences do exist within all minorities. As I have mentioned before cultural values cannot be modified or removed from their personalities but they can adapt some characteristics of other cultures. People who spend time with people of other background might learn some information about other cultures and traditions for example if an American spend some time with Muslim might get to know about each other and cultures as well. Furthermore, Cultural Difference are usually created due to their different language, tradition and values are different than others. In other words their way of thinking is not same. But Multiculturalism has resolved the issue of cultural di...

    Read More

More about Les Miserables

Open Document