Hugo’s method of depicting the fundamental emotional development of characters. In his Romantic melodrama Les Misérables, Victor Hugo expresses numerous thematic implications of 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
If one were to ask what the basis of human nature and civilization encompasses, I would tell them to read Victor Hugo’s epic novel, Les Miserables (1862). Set in various locations in France, spanning from 1815 to 1832, the novel follows the main protagonist, Jean Valjean. The story begins with the Bishop of Digne and his daily life. Jean Valjean, a released convict, stumbles upon the town where the Bishop lives and is shunned from every inn he goes to due to his status as a former prisoner. The only
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
Les Miserables is a story filled with emotion and characters that are very real. They deal with every day emotions that cause them to make choices. These choices have effects on the characters paths in life. As they make decisions and live with their choices they are often left at the feet of a higher law. They are judged on the basis of mercy and justice on a regular basis. In this essay we are going to explore what justice and mercy are as it applies to people’s choices and actions during life
The book Les Miserables, By Victor Hugo, is the story of the transformation of the man named Jean Valjean from evil to good. The book begins when Valjean has just been released from prison after nineteen years of doing time, and is wandering the streets of France, his mind filled with evil, hateful thoughts. Then, Valjean is introduced to God, and becomes a good, God-fearing man. The book is about how he creates a new name and a new life for himself, but then sacrifices his freedom to save a man
Les Miserable Have you ever known a person whose life was very miserable? Maybe you have. In the novel Les 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
It takes a strong person to completely let go of something painful and forgive a person who has done them wrong. For example, the scenes in the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo where Bishop Myriel forgives Valjean and where Javert is unable to accept Valjean’s forgiveness are similar because both characters forgave their wrongdoers with mercy. They forgave because they let go of the need for vengeance and in turn welcomed compassion. However, the response of the wrongdoers was different. Valjean
Les Miserables "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
Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables remains as one of the best socio-political commentaries to come out of the European continent. Hugo’s mastery of storytelling infuses events of the recent past with concerns of modern day France to create a beautifully written story that can be enjoyed for centuries to come. The popular opinion towards the French way of life at the time is portrayed through the life of former convict Jean Valjean who attempts to rebuild his life after escaping parole. His life story is
in his eye,” (397) this light was seen through Jean Valjean’s eyes as he neared death. This light symbolizes the bishop’s goodness and God’s love for him. When he saw this light, he knew he was ready for his journey to Heaven. The story is in Les Miserables is heavy with themes of grace, mercy and redemption as seen through Javert and Jean Valjean. Javert is very committed to the chance of righteousness and the denial of transformation and the possibility of spiritual redemption. He says to Valjean
Title Les Miserables is about a crucial time in French history it shows why the French revolution happened through exaggerated symbolism. It shows how the misreables or the undesirables are not given a fair chance by society and forced into a life of crime out of necessity. They are punished by the law system which creates more criminal the exact opposite of what a just system is supposed to do. This creates a society that is nefarious and filled with envy and despair. Les Miserables is actually
The Triumph of Les Misérables Les Misérables (1862), a novel set in early nineteenth century France, presents a story of obsessions in honor, love, and duty, and through it redemption and salvation. It is the story of the poor Jean Valjean, condemned to an unfair amount of time in prison and a life on the run for stealing a loaf of bread for his starving family. The kind act of forgiveness from a Bishop with whom Jean Valjean stays one night, changes the course in which he chooses to live his
Les Misérables Self-sacrifice is very hard to accomplish because you don’t have to help someone and your life would be much easier without helping other people. If Self-sacrifice is often a difficult act to accomplish. If you were given the 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
novel for evidence. Be sure to cite page numbers for each quote. This journal is your final exam for Les Miserables. 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
With its amazing visual effects and talented actors Les Miserables is definitely a must see. It is a beautiful musical that involves love, hate, death, and life. It takes place in France early 1800’s. The plot involves a refugee named Jean Valjean, who is released from prison but violates his parole to start a new life, then he meets a dying woman he vows to take care of her daughter Cosette, which turns out to be more difficult than he thought considering there is a war going on. Twentieth century
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
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
Les Miserables Throughout peoples lives they will be influenced due to other people and events. There are many ways people can be influenced. In the book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, three different people influence Jean Valjean. The first influence on Jean was by the bishop. Another influence on Jean was Cosette. A third influence on Jean was Javert. Each of these are people who play a large role in Jean's life. The bishop was one of Jeans first and most important influences involving kindness
Les Miserables known in English as “The Terrible” is a musical portrayal of the French Revolution. It is a musical tragedy, which served as a major powerhouse competitor for Andrew Lloyd Weber musicals in the early eighties and nineties. When first debuting on Broadway in 1987 it traveled a long hard road to compete with musicals of the decade. However, in time many well-known performers were proud to associate themselves with this wonderful work of art. The musical play begins with its lead character
Throughout Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables the main character, Jean Valjean went through multiple turning points. Jean Valjean was once an honest tree pruner, but was arrested for a stealing a loaf of bread. After serving nineteen years in prison, he became calloused and despises the world for what it did to him. He traveled to the mountain town of Dinge, where a virtuous bishop lived. Valjean attempted to stay in an inn, but is kicked out due to him being an ex-convict. Valjean stayed with the bishop