Jean Valjean Vs Javert

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Recommended: Analysis of movie characters in Les Miserables

There is a saying that many people us, and it states that no two people are alike. People may not be exactly the same, but there can be numerous similarities that come about through their personalities. The characters of Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables seem to be completely different from one another. No two characters come across in the same manner. They all have their own way of expressing emotions, but to the surprise of many readers, some of them were meticulously related. The ones that were the closest related were the two that seemed to contradict the most with one another. Throughout the 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 …show more content…

The emotions that are revealed show the true love and devotion that Jean Valjean is feeling. “When [Jean Valjean] saw Cosette…he felt his heart moved.” (Hugo and Wilbour 108) illustrates that a simple emotion can have countless meanings behind it. Jean Valjean feels strengths of affection that completely take over his life. This emotion does more than just provide him with a feeling, it provides him with a purpose for his life. This feeling of love compelled him throughout every stage of his life, and “All that he might have felt of love in his entire life melted into a sort of ineffable radiance.” (Hugo and Wilbour 109) The love that he experienced shaped perception of the world he lived in.
Javert experienced the same feeling while his perception was shaping that Jean Valjean did. After being born in the gallows, his thoughts and feelings about the law were already put into motion. His life was devoted solely to following and promoting all of the laws. “He believes that once a criminal, always a criminal.” ("‘Les Mis’: Why Do We Idealize Jean Valjean and Act Like Javert? • The Berkeley Blog") The feelings that he had towards the law were so strong that they blinded any outside emotions that breaking through to him. The law was merely the purpose for his …show more content…

When he felt that Cosette was no longer his, he felt that the largest piece of him was being taken away. “It is best that I should go away. Death is a good arrangement,” (Hugo and Wilbour 330) were the powerful words spoken by Jean Valjean after the realization that Cosette loved someone else other than him. Javert and Jean Valjean’s powerful words express their true devotion to the law and Cosette. Jean Valjean feels that he has nothing to live for besides loving Cosette, and Javert believes that the law is the only thing that we should following throughout our

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