In today’s times, one can not go outside without hearing news about bullying, poverty, and hate crimes. These are all examples of modern day social injustices. The Berkley Social Justice Symposium defines social justice as, “ a process, not an outcome, which (1) seeks fair (re)distribution of resources, opportunities, and responsibilities; (2) challenges the roots of oppression and injustice; (3) empowers all people to exercise self-determination and realize their full potential; (4) and builds social solidarity and community capacity for collaborative action.” In other words, social justice is the state of maintaining equal opportunities and privileges for everyone. This definition allows us to know that social injustice is the unequal and …show more content…
Hugo shows this at the beginning of the book, when Javert said, “A prostitute had assaulted a citizen...You are in here for six months,” (Hugo 77). There was a riot in the beginning of the book that resulted in Fantine having a disagreement with a man. Having resorted to prostitution to pay off debts she was placed in jail, even though she was not to blame. Javert had violated his strict legal code without even knowing it through his unjust execution of power. Hugo shows oppression through the judicial system as well. It was said in the court that, “Four persons have recognized him, and the old villain will be condemned,”(83). Champmathieu was being labeled as Jean Valjean and taken to court. There were other convicts that testified that Champmathieu was, in fact, Jean Valjean. However, they were unreliable. The court went along with the convicts’ testification, and Javert’s biased view, and almost sentenced Champmathieu. This shows the unjust use of power and authority in the French judicial system. Later in the story, Thenardier shows a cruel use of his power when he says, “It is forty sous for him, I don’t lodge poor people for less,” (Hugo 161). Thenardier sees an opportunity to use the authority in his bar to raise the price, and he does. He raises the price however, for the poor. Instead of sympathising for them, he tries to exploit them. He raised the price for Valjean, thinking he was poor. When he found out that he had money, he still tried to exploit him showing cruel exercise of authority. Marius is taught about oppression through an old man who told him, “To think that there is no equality even when we are dead! Look at Pere Lachaise! The great, those who are rich, are in the upper part, in the avenue of the acacias, which is paved. They can go there in a carriage. The low, the poor, the unfortunate, they are put in the lower part…” (Hugo 293). The old