Les Miserables: Redemption by the Divine

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Throughout history, mankind has always found his calling, reasons, and purpose in the form of a God, a high power singular or a collection of them plural. As a result, an author's own systematic religious beliefs will often influence both the message of their story, and the differentiating morals of their characters. Victor Hugo infers himself to be God-fearing man in Les Miserables, specifically implying it through both Valjean and Javert's beliefs about God around the start of the story, their understanding and interpretation of what would be morally accepted under the laws of God during, and their "return" back to God near the end.

Being parallel opposites in the way they even begin to be portrayed, the prisoner and his jailor both represent a common "beginning" when being introduced to God: Valjean has no reason to believe in God despite his less than stellar circumstances, and Javert has every reason to believe in God as a man enforcing both God's law and jurisprudence. Regardless, Valjean is saved by the bishop, who extensively would acts as God’s prophet, in a way, signifying the influence of the Church, and behind that, God: “But remember this, my brother [...] I have bought your soul for God” (“Valjean Arrested/Valjean Forgiven” 17-24). After his release from prison, Valjean is convinced the world is against him—the bishop convinces him otherwise. Hugo means that for every man, God has a plan for him, and similarly has a purpose for every one of them. It does not matter what crimes have committed, or how far he has fallen from grace: a man can always be redeemed through how he chooses to act and change for God. Even so, though readers may not be aware of the exact religious zeal Javert has until later on in the story, Ja...

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...d by Claude-Michel Schonberg. Trans. Herbert Kretzmer. 1985. 09 Feb 2012.

Web.

---. “Work song.” Musicorld – Les Miserables Libretto. Composed by Claude-Michel Schonberg.

Trans. Herbert Kretzmer. 1985. 09 Feb 2012. Web.

---. “Who am I? (The Trial).” Musicorld – Les Miserables Libretto. Composed by Claude-Michel

Schonberg. Trans. Herbert Kretzmer. 1985. 09 Feb 2012. Web.

---. “Stars.” Musicorld – Les Miserables Libretto. Composed by Claude-Michel Schonberg.

Trans. Herbert Kretzmer. 1985. 09 Feb 2012. Web.

---. “Epilogue.” Musicorld – Les Miserables Libretto. Composed by Claude-Michel Schonberg.

Trans. Herbert Kretzmer. 1985. 09 Feb 2012. Web.

---. “Javert’s Suicide.” Musicorld – Les Miserables Libretto. Composed by Claude-Michel

Schonberg. Trans. Herbert Kretzmer. 1985. 09 Feb 2012. Web.

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