Les Miserables: Social Evils In Victor Hugo

Ann Ninh

Mr. Jefferson

English 2H

22 April 2014

Social Evils

Injustice within society is harshest on those who are already unfortunate. In the tragedy Les Miserables, Victor Hugo attacks the social evils of post-revolutionary France while telling the story Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who has reformed and found redemption. Hugo uses the events and characters within the story to attack these social evils. Through Valjean’s experience with imprisonment, Hugo criticizes France’s corrupt and unjust justice system; through Fantine’s struggles, he attacks society’s cruel treatment of women; and through the Thenardiers’ actions, he showcases the selfish, ruthless nature of those within society.

Hugo uses Jean Valjean's imprisonment and immediate release to criticize France's inadequate justice system. To describe Valjean's punishment, Hugo writes, “In October, 1815, he was set at large; he had entered in 1796 for having broken a pane of glass, and taken a loaf of bread” (22). Valjean receives, in total, nineteen long years for the initial crime of stealing a loaf of bread. The legal system severely punishes Valjean for an act that stemmed, not from malicious intentions, but from the desire to feed his family. Valjean resorts to thievery only when he family is on the verge of starving. However, the law chooses to punish, instead of help, an innocent civilian who’s in desperate need of assistance. Through this incident, Hugo showcases the French government's inability to deliver true, righteous justice. Hugo criticizes not only the government's inability to properly restrain dangerous criminals, but also criticizes its mistreatment of prisoners. Valjean was treated cruelly in prison and when he is finally released from prison, “The beginn...

... middle of paper ...

...re still very much relatable to modern-day society. Just as Victor Hugo demonstrated through the events surrounding Jean Valjean, there is still injustice within the criminal justice system. Today, there are still people, like Fantine, who barely manage to survive each day while society stands by and scorns or neglects them. Within the very webbings of the community, there are those that live off of others’ misfortunes. Les Miserables’ social commentary is still relevant to modern readers. The sense of injustice that Hugo portrays in his novel is still present in modern-day society. People today still suffer from similar oppressive issues. In this novel, Hugo creates characters that have the courage to step forward and attempt to bring about change. The existence of social evils places repressive chains on society--society needs these "saviors" to progress forward.