Unexpected

In everyday life, people often face ironic situations that they do not expect. Authors usually use irony in their works to get attention of the reader. In the novel “Les miserable”, Victor Hugo creates sarcasm in the character’s life. For instance, Jean Valjean was in prison for 19 years; his only crime was that he stole a bread to save his family. Inspector of police Javert sees only light and dark in other words he only cares about what he sees. Javert was always after Jean Valjean even though Jean Valjean got out of jail. Some of the significant ironies Hugo includes in his book are Jondrette who is the Thenardier are neighbors of Marius and Marius is looking for them. Second is when Javert gets captured as a spy. Last irony is Javert lets Jean Valjean escape who he hated the most.

One way Hugo shows irony is Thenardier lives under false name of Jondrette and they are neighbor of Marius. And he is looking for them. Marius is so generous that he paid Jondrette’s rent without knowing who they really are. He was looking for Thenardier to thank him for saving his father at Waterloo battle and in accident he thanked them by paying their rent. But he didn’t know what kind of people they are. Once he found a hole in the wall from there he is able to see everything going on inside of Jondrette’s apartment. And he saw they are not good as they look. They made their apartment look bad to get money from philanthropist-- Jean Valjean. When Jondrette said, “My name is not Fabantou, my name is not Jondrette, my name is Thenardier. I am the innkeeper of Montfermeil! Do you understand me? Thenardier! Now do you know me?”(Hugo 220), Marius was shocked. Still after knowing who Jondrettes are and what kind of people they are, Marius didn’t fire...

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...78). Jean Valjean found out about Marius’ and Cosette’s relationship and he heads to the barricade to save Marius from police. Jean Valjean saved Marius by giving his National Guard uniform. Enjolras commands Jean Valjean to take the spy and kill him. One chance Jean Valjean got to take his revenge but instead of killing him he lets Javert walk away. This was ironic because at the barricade person who was prisoner is Javert not Jean Valjean.

There are many ironies in Les miserable but some larger ironies are Marius looks for Thenardier and discovers they are right under his nose. Second irony is Javert gives chance to Jean Valjean to escape. Last important irony is Javert is captured as prisoner at the barricade. Victor Hugo illustrates many good teaching lessons to the reader throughout his novel. In daily life, people faces many unexpected situation in their life.