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
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
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
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
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
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
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”
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
Cosette, the light of Jean Valjean’s life In the book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo we are introduced to two characters, a father named Jean Valjean and a daughter named Cosette. Before Cosette comes into Jean Valjeans life, he is a convict, a thief but then a Bishop gives him the candlesticks he was trying to steal and lets him off with some wise words and basically gives him a second chance to change his life and make it better. Cosette, who is left by her mother to people who do not even try to
demonstrates romantic qualities such as spiritual growth, emotion/sympathy and Nature. Jean Valjean is an exceptional character who demonstrates spiritual growth because he feels lost and nothing can change his life he has. All changes when he meets a Bishop who says “you no longer belong to evil but to good” (Hugo 34) he offers Valjean unconditional love, trusting the former convict with his life because of this Valjean becomes new man and goes on to become a kind yet humble mayor. The romantics were
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
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, Myriel, but had
above what is required of them, to benefit someone else. One example of this in the story occurs after Valjean has set Javert free. Javert later captures Valjean. As he is going to take him to prison, Valjean asked for one last request, which Javert grants. That wish is for Valjean to go back to his house one last time so that he may say good-bye to Cosette and put a few things in order. Valjean
kindness. In the book Les Miserables, Jean Valjean is arrested and put into jail for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family. After being released from prison and breaking parole, Valjean is having a hard time finding a place to stay. Since his papers said that he was a criminal, he was denied a place to stay. He finally stopped at a Bishop’s house where he took him in and fed Valjean and gave him a bed to sleep in. In the middle of the night, Valjean stole all the Bishop’s silver, but