Animal Imagery And Metaphors In Les Misérables By Victor Hugo

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As the snake slithers through the rough ground of the jungle, he is aware of far off cries of a lion and a tiger. It is obvious by the sounds that the two are engaged in a consequential combat. Suddenly, the sounds draw nearer to his proximity and he watches as the lion leaps out of a nearby bush with the tiger not far behind. Unfortunately for the lion, the tiger was more adept to the jungle terrain. His curiosity peaked, the snake slides his way to the scene of the final attack. Throughout the world of literature, animal imagery and metaphors are often used to develop characters. In the book Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, there is no shortage of these literary 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 of his mouth, and he muttered between his teeth, ‘Take care,’” which shows tiger-like imagery (Hugo 313). Jean Valjean has just saved Javert’s life by setting him free from the barricade. He only immediately repays him by confirming the given address with Valjean and then walking off. The animal imagery shows the fierceness that Javert has, even when his life is being spared. Not once does he thank Valjean, but replies only with a scowl. The tiger imagery presented to the reader helps to characterize Javert because it shows his unyielding, ferocious nature. Javert and Jean Va...

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...y dexterous creatures, and can move effortlessly and swiftly from one action to another. With this ability, shared by mutually by cats and Thénardier, they can easily fool people with back handed tricks. Thénardier resembles the sly, scummy part of French society who feeds off of the inattentiveness of the wealthier members, which is shown through the imagery and metaphors of snakes and cats.
Javert, Valjean, and Thénardier are all characterized through imagery of animals. Javert is the fierce tiger, Valjean is the powerful and intelligent lion, and Thénardier is the sly snake and crafty cat. Hugo develops his characters even further by connecting them to animals. Metaphors and imagery are powerful literary devices that can raise an average story into an amazing novel. They make stories more interesting and give the reader a new level of understanding of the book.

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