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
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. The protagonist’s transformation begins when the bishop recognizes Jean Valjean’s human soul that is capable of goodness. When he is put out into the streets, Valjean goes from place to place being rejected for being a convict until he meets the bishop
Victor Hugo's Les Miserables and Jean Valjean "Is there not in every human soul, was there not in the particular soul of Jean VaIjean, a primitive spark, a divine element, incorruptible in this world, immortal in the next, which can be developed by good, kindled, lit up, and made resplendently radiant, and which evil can never entirely extinguish." (Hugo, p. 78) Victor Hugo's 1862 epic novel Les Miserables ranks among the literary greats of the 19th Century. Despite its awesome length, it has
would unfailingly choose our family because they mean a greater deal to us. Wealth is not determined upon your finances or materialistic possessions, for it is determined by the love and compassion you have that others do not. In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean lost his family, and did not have much money. But, him helping others is all he needed. He served 19 years in prison for stealing bread to feed his sister’s children. After being released,
exists. The purpose of the law is to preserve justice and maintain order. Therefore, justice and the law should work in unison. However, many times law and justice clash. In Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, the tension and clash are demonstrated. Jean Valjean and Bishop Myriel represent justice and mercy, while Javert portrays the law. They are all honorable in their principles, yet they clash as opposing tides of society. First, it is important to understand what the law carried by Javert is defined
important changes the protagonist Jean Valjean experiences within French society through his detailed account of Valjean’s gradual moral and psychological transformation. In order to guide us through Les Misérables, Hugo immediately introduces the initial Jean Valjean as an unchanged and hardened criminal who visits a religious man, conveying his encounter with the honorable bishop as the first phase of his spiritual transformation. Victor Hugo explicitly depicts Valjean as a “convict just from the galleys
chance to sacrifice yourself for others, would you? Jean Valjean from the film, Les Miserables was able to put many others in front of himself. Jean Valjean showed self-sacrifice and put others ahead of himself by revealing his true identity to save a stranger, adopting Cosette, and getting Marius a doctor by sacrificing himself to the police. Jean Valjean shows the act of self-sacrifice by turning himself in to save the stranger. After Valjean helps the man, he will get caught which risks his freedom
devices. With the assistance of animal imagery and metaphors, Hugo develops the characters of Javert, Jean Valjean, and Thénardier. Throughout the novel, Hugo represents Javert as a tiger, which is a major part of his characterization. Javert is captured by the barricade for spying, and is sentenced to death. Valjean comes in and takes him away from the barricade and sets him free. After Valjean reveals his address to Javert, the narrator says, “Javert had the scowl of a tiger half opening the corner
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. Jean Valjean began the story as an ex-convict who was searching for food and shelter after working in the galleys for sixteen years. Unfortunately, he failed to receive compassion from any lodging, or home. While he was wandering through the streets
Le Misérables displays change in Jean Valjean and Javert physically, emotionally, and morally. Jean Valjean is a very important character who goes through so many changes. His moral character changes when he steals from the bishop and is taken back to him and the bishop forgives Valjean showing him compassion in a way that he has never received. When he emotionally changes it changes the way he feels about other people. After he steals from Petit Gervais, Valjean realizes his actions and cries for
up of something dear and precious without thought of material repayment. Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables, is no exception. It is, in fact, full to overflowing of sacrifice between its different characters. Two such characters are Eponine and Jean Valjean, who each sacrifice an extraordinary amount to other characters. Eponine gave up just about everything she had, except the clothes on her back. One of Eponine’s major sacrifices was that of her slim chance of being loved by Marius, by giving him
house she leaves her child, little did Fantine know that Cosette was going to be mistreated and miserable. On Fantine’s death bed, she begs Jean Valjean to find and take care of her child. In Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misèrables, Cosette is a symbol of the child atrophy by darkness through her time spent with the Thènardiers, her transformation with Jean Valjean, and her flourishing into a young woman. Victor Hugo uses Cosette to represent the children of the time period and how they cannot grow without
As the era of literature slowly declines, the expert critiques and praise for literature are lost. Previously, novels were bursting at the seams with metaphors, symbolism, and themes. In current times, “novels” are simply short stories that have been elaborated on with basic plot elements that attempt to make the story more interesting. Instead of having expert critical analysis written about them, they will, most likely, never see that, as recent novels have nothing to analyze. Even books are beginning
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
Miserable many of the characters show a miserable life due to circumstances that happened in their past. These characters are like put into a ring of fire in which every event that happens in Les Miserable. These characters are Eponine, Jean Valjean, Cossette, Gavrouche, Marius,and Fantine. other characters such as Thernardier are characters who are the antagonist of the story who do robbery and many other bad deeds throughout the whole story. These characters have exemplified
In his novel, Les Miserables, author Victor Hugo makes a strong statement about society being the cause for evil in man. Les Miserables is based on a poor man, Jean Valjean, who was arrested for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s starving baby. Valjean is sentenced to 20 years for his crime, and, when he is released, he is shunned for his past, which he has more than paid for. Society turns him out at every turn for his past crime, and will hear no excuses for his deed. With this scenario
his kindness shocks her. "How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? For the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans" (John 4:9). He is not hostile to those whom society has deemed his enemy. In Hugo’s Jean Valjean of Les Miserables, one observes a man nearly broken by the tem... ... middle of paper ... ...seen. Sydney Carton, therefore, would be an exemplary disciple to this. It is Sydney Carton's unmatched love for Lucie results in giving up the ultimate
character in the movie. He is seen treating Jean Valjean unfairly in the beginning of the movie because he was once a criminal who would never change in Javert's eyes. After his escape and avoidance of parole, Javert goes on to a search for Valjean. After, not seeing Valjean for a long period of time, he couldn't recognize him since he had gone on to become a successful businessman as well as a mayor, after his encounter with the Bishop. However, when Valjean and Javert came in each others direction
"Les Miserables" is about a man, Jean Valjean, who has just been released from the galleys after 19 years of imprisonment. He is in search of food and shelter, but all the taverns and inns in D----- have rejected him, because he is a former convict. He then meets a woman in front of the church who tells him to go to the house where the bishop lives. Although the bishop knows Valjean is a convict, he takes him in, and gives him food and shelter. However, Valjean is still tempted to steal from the
Unless directed otherwise, please complete these journals without external help. As always, be sure to avoid plagiarism, and follow the class writing rubric to guide your writing. À bientôt! 1/30/14 Characterize either Monseigneur Bienvenu or Jean Valjean In this novel, Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Monseigneur Bienvenu is portrayed with his personality. For instance he is very kind and forgiving. “At the first view, and to one who saw him for the first time, he was nothing more than a good person”