Les Miserables
Les Miserables is an epic tale of the very poor in spirit and body who suffer throughout their lives. Set in 19th century France, it tells the story of Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, who is able to rebuild his life. Author Kathryn M. Grossman concludes, "Les Miserables is a work to which one can return time and time again without a sense of having exhausted the possibilities. Like its multifaceted hero, it can be viewed from numerous perspectives each enriching the others..." One of the possibilities Ms. Grossman brought to light was the philosophy involved in this story. Victor Hugo, the author of Les Miserables, displays a strong sense of humanistic and philosophical beliefs in the novel through his "multifaceted hero," Jean Valjean. Jean Valjean, Hugo's main protagonist, is a prime example of humanism at its most extreme. Valjean is first accused of crime when he steals a loaf of bread, trying to support his sister's needy family. After being a galley slave and a convict for nineteen years, he brings himself back into society with the help of Bishop Myriel. When all other turn Valjean away at their doors, Myriel provides an opportunity for the convict to begin a new life, presenting him with the candlesticks for which V
In the book "Fantine," Hugo rejects the principle of a divine being proclaiming, "We have all one mother--the earth. Marius sends word to Cosette that he will soon die, which is intercepted by Valjean. Valjean dies, with the light of good illuminating him, at peace from a life of hiding and crime. However, this crime is portrayed nobly, an act done only to save and to protect Cosette from the Thenardiers. When Marius discovers that the Thenardiers plan to rob Valjean, he contacts the police, and Javert signs on to the case. In the following chapter, Valjean slinks away from his promise when he steals a forty-sous piece from Petit Gervais, who is another miserable, similar to Valjean. The passage "He settled differences, he prevented lawsuits, he reconciled enemies," (56) displays evidence of Valjean's reform and Hugo's belief in inherent good. " (98) Again, the emphasis of humanism, goodness without supernatural interference is portrayed. Through his reformed life, accredited to the goodness within him, he arranges for Cosette to live in security with Marius, and for him to die a happy man. This plagues him even further to trade his life in for another man by joining the barricade. "Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man," (39) Myriel said to Valjean, an outcast of society. Although he is a man of God, he believes that Jean Valjean has goodness within him that can bring him into the light and grace of the Lord. For nearly ten years, Valjean and Cosette act as poor relatives of Monsieur Fauchelevant, evading Javert, who is still searching for Jean Valjean. Upon recognizing the unfortunate little boy was in a life of poverty, much as himself, guilt consumes Valjean which drives him to donate money to the poor, and also to proclaim his crime to the frightened and surprised priest he meets. He continues a life of charity though, giving money to the Jondrettes, who are really the Thenardiers, the antithesis of Valjean's generosity.
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Acceptance Essays
