Jean Valjean Essays

While each of the thefts of Jean Valjean represented a bad decision in his life, each led to a transforming effect in Jean Valjean’s life. In the classic Les Miserables, Victor Hugo highlights the themes of social injustice, poverty, and redemption in France during this time period while telling the story of the fugitive Jean Valjean. The novel centers on the main character, Jean Valjean, who spends nineteen years in prison due to stealing a loaf of bread and the rest of his life fleeing from police

chances and hope. Jean Valjean is a kind a selfless man. A situation that shows this is during the battle at the barricades he was going to find Marius and get him out. By deciding to do this he is risking his own life. To get there safely he has a coat that allows him to pass wherever he needs. When he to gets to the barricades he sees that there are five men trying to get out and only 4 coats that they need to leave safely. Showing a true act of selflessness Jean Valjean has the other coat and

thought that since Jean Valjean broke the law that he should be punished and never given another chance. The ways that Javert and the Bishop looked at Jean Valjean is the same way that society would look at someone and determine if their civilized or barbaric. In the Kite Runner, Hassan had to go through the same thing that Jean Valjean had to go through

that person’s whole life. In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean is a man with a dreadful past, serving 19 years in prison for breaking the window pane of a bakery to steal a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving children, and attempting to escape out of jail several times. After his release, Jean Valjean is known by all as a criminal, and is only provided shelter by the kind bishop of Digne, Monseigneur Bienvenu. The bishop kindness purifies and humanizes Valjean, and so he becomes a respectful man who changes

INTRODUCTION The convict Jean Valjean is released from a French prison after serving nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread and for subsequent attempts to escape from prison. When Valjean arrives at the town of Digne, no one is willing to give him shelter because he is an ex-convict. Desperate, Valjean knocks on the door of M. Myriel, the kindly bishop of Digne. Myriel treats Valjean with kindness, and Valjean repays the bishop by stealing his silverware. When the police arrest Valjean, Myriel covers

one has not had a good father one must create one.”, a quote by Friedrich Nietzsche which describes what Valjean has become. Jean Valjean, an ex-convict, takes in an orphaned girl named Cosette after her mother Fantine dies as his promise to her. He nurtures and loves the girl as if she were his own, but he also keeps her away from the rest of the world in fear of his own past. While Valjean may not be Cosette’s biological father, he raises and loves her, but he also hinders her from seeing and experiencing

Imagine getting put in jail for nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread. This is what Jean Valjean had to experience. Jean Valjean, the main character of Tom Hooper’s drama Les Miserables, gets out of prison, where he was put for stealing a loaf of bread, at the beginning of the movie. After being told that he’d be let out of jail, his dreams of living a normal life were utterly shattered within a couple seconds. This happened because Javert gave him a slip of paper marking him as a ‘dangerous’

throughout the book grows increasingly thin until his demise. He is order, and justice, he is Javert, policeman of Paris and villain of the novel Les Miserables. Javert is in constant pursuit of Jean Valjean, a convict who broke parole. His obsessive behavior intertwines him deeply in the story of Jean Valjean and allows Javert to become the main antagonist of the novel. His villainy is in correspondence with the law, his lack of faith and his personal ideals. All of which we see clear demonstrations

Jean Valjean goes through a lot in this movie. In the beginning, Jean is released on parole after serving a sentence for stealing bread and for trying to escape prison. He travels everywhere to find a job and a home, but he is unable to find anything for himself. Finally, the bishop offers Jean a bed and some food, so Jean spends the night there. He repays the bishop by deciding to steal all his silverware and escape. In the morning, officers found Valjean with the stolen silverware and brought him

Jean Valjean’s selflessness is more evident in the novel, Les Miserables, than it is in the movie as shown through his rescue of Fauchelevent, Javert, and Marius. Jean Valjean’s selflessness is more evident in the novel, Les Miserables, than it is in the movie as shown through his rescue of Fauchelevent. First, the novel provides a detailed description of Fauchelevent, which strengthens Valjean’s selfless act. Through this description, the reader learns the backstory between Fauchelevent and Valjean

splash heard by no one signaled the end of Javert, a man of the law in Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables. He chases after Jean Valjean for years without rest or relenting, simply because Valjean broke parole. Given an opportunity to capture him, Javert would show no hesitation or mercy to the man who stole a loaf of bread. His resolve in this goal is shattered when Valjean, given the chance to the man pursuing him, instead saves Javert’s life. The conflicting examples of a galley slave and a holy

Gavroche and Marius are similar to Pontmercy and Thenardier in the way that Gavroche’s body was brought back by Marius like Pontmercy was brought back by Thenardier. The only difference is that Pontmercy’s body was brought back alive, while gavroche’s body was brought back lifeless. (pg 310) Monsieur Gillenormand, upon finding out that Marius wanted to wed, was joyful and was in favor of the marriage. (pg 340) The final outcome of the battle at the barricade was that all but two of the student insurgents

dynamic characters, and many archetypes. An archetype is a character that represents a population or a group of people. Les Miserables spotlights the life of a middle aged man; his struggles, his accomplishments, and his outlook on life itself. Jean Valjean, Monsieur Fauchelevent, #24601, Monsieur Leblanc, Monsieur Madeleine, a man who goes by many names, is the main character of Les Miserables. He was a very dynamic character who represented the people who got out of jail and were still treated

that Jean Valjean and Javert are opposites, but upon closer consideration, their similarities are more numerous than a first glance lets on. To begin, they are both men and will therefore both struggle with things of men, which gives immediate grounds for comparison. A ground for contrast is also present, for every man struggles with different matters. Jean Valjean and Javert are most similar in the way that both want to, and do, good - or at least what they envision as good. Jean Valjean aids the

is basically good is shown on page 317 ,through Jean Valjean actions. The quote on page 317 states, “ Jean Valjean found himself ,with Marius still senseless in a sort of long underground passage. The deep peace absolute silence night. The impression which he had formerly felt in falling from the street into the convent came back to him. Only what he was now carrying away was not Cosette ; it was Marius.” This quote by Victor Hugo reveals Jean Valjean once again saving the life of another person,who

It is a story with a long and intricate plot, of the heroic life of a simple and good man in the person of Jean Valjean. He is a very memorable character who is morally upright but guilty of certain thefts for which he feels remorse. To avoid capture and life sentence, he assumes the identity of Monsieur Madeliene, soon becoming the mayor of the small town he has adopted. It is a very beautiful story packed with excitement. You will always try to think what would happen to the characters as they

book or watch the musical that originated from Victor Hugo’s incredible mind: Les Miserables. Many readers will note that the story touches on themes such as grace, love, and redemption—especially when describing the life of the main character, Jean Valjean. However, he is not the only character that experiences redemption. Fantine, Javert, and Marius also receive redemption—either God’s, the audience’s, or by another person. Fantine receives redemption from God in Les Miserables. As a single mother

welcomed in the town? The newcomer, Jean Valjean, was not welcome in the town because he was a convict. 11. What do the two women want the bishop to do just before the newcomer arrives? The two women wanted to reinstall the old bolts in the door. 12. a. What is the newcomer’s name? The newcomer is Jean Valjean. b. How long had he been in prison? Valjean had been in prison for nineteen years. 13. Describe Valjean’s life before prison. Valjean used to live with his sister, her husband

actions through the lens of Christian piety and righteousness of conscience . Behind it all conscious life hunting inspector Javert . The main story , for those who have not read the novel , takes place after the death of the unfortunate Fantine , which Jean has promised eternal care of her daughter Cosette .The most dramatic piece I think was story sung by Fantine,powerful and memorable: started with mezzo-soprano vocal accompanied with piano and guitar. Flowing chords that sound wonderful, the singer’s

I identify myself as Jean Valjean in the story. Valjean was a poor guy who was sentenced to be an oarsman for stealing a loaf of bread for his niece. He could not get any job after he was released because of his ex-convict’s passport. He ended up staying at a local bishop’s house and stole silver dishes. He got caught by the gendarmes, but the bishop forgave Valjean and even gave him more silver. If I was in that situation where I have to steal something in order to help a loved one, I would definitely