Les Miserables, By Victor Hugo

When someone forgives another, it is for the purpose of moving on and putting past issues behind them. Without forgiveness there is no resolution and without resolution there is no redemption. This concept of forgiveness is frequently demonstrated in the French novel, Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo. Jean Valjean, one of the main characters, encounters quite a few aspects of forgiveness as he re-enters reality and experiences a myriad of hardships that tests who he is as a person and who other characters are as well. Through the characterization of these characters represented in the novel, it is understood that forgiveness is the key to self- betterment, whether the person is receiving forgiveness or granting forgiveness to another. It is

Refusing to forgive past foes instills a grudge that limits the person's ability to move on. Holding a grudge speaks a lot for a person's character, signifying that this person is stubborn, close minded, and bitter. For instance we see that, Javert, demonstrates these qualities as he sets himself up for a lifetime of insanity, keeping a grudge against Jean Valjean. Hugo writes, “ Javert was like an eye always fixed on Monsieur Madeleine; an eye full of suspicion and conjecture” (Hugo 57). Javert can not let go of the fact that Jean Valjean is an ex-convict and spends the rest of his life trying to bring Jean Valjean back down, this is, until he ultimately commits suicide. Javert’s obstinate opinion of Jean Valjean can not even look past his crimes when he shows him forgiveness and gives him his life. “You are free”, says Jean Valjean, after everything, after living in constant fear of being convicted again, he tells Javert, “Take care” (Hugo 264). Instead of moving on, like a bigger person would, Javert was overwhelmed at the fact that he had to,“...owe life to a malefactor...”, and establishes his weakness by taking his own life, falling “...straight into the

When Jean Valjean thinks that all hope is lost, that is exactly when it is found in the house of Bishop Bienvenu. Jean Valjean has no faith in a greater God because of all his suffering and lack of mercy he is shown because of his past. When Bishop Bienvenu opens his arms to him and calls him, “... my brother…”, Jean Valjean is freed from evil and his spirit has been withdrawn from “...bad thoughts…”, and, “... given to God” (Hugo 39). The Bishop forgives Jean Valjean for stealing the silver and gives him a second chance at starting over. The Bishop proves to be understanding, selfless, and hopeful in the way he aides this broken stranger. Moving forward, this is not the last time that Jean Valjean is assisted by the Church. When he is fleeing with Cosette and is in desperate need of a place to stay he is accepted into a convent where he acquaints himself with Fauchelevent, who is also accepting and willing to help. Fauchelevent has also forgiven the past. Jean Valjean and Cosette are able to live and work like normal people with little fear. It is quoted that, “... two houses of God had received him in succession at the two critical moments of his life, the first when every door was closed and human society repelled him; the second, when human society again howled upon his track, and the galleys once more gaped for him;...”(Hugo 129). Being granted a place to stay in both instances can