Summary:
Explores themes contained in the Victor Hugo novel, Les Miserables. Describes how Les Miserable is a novel which exposes the life of the poor, and the ignorance of others oblivious to that state of being.
Les Misérables is a novel of many components. It has innumerable themes that can be applied to life, although it is a fictional novel. It is a novel which exposes the life of the poor, and the ignorance of others oblivious to that state of being.
Jean Valjean is the messenger of kindness throughout the novel. While some of the other characters are mean and despicable, Jean is the saint that shines above all others. Jean Valjean changes his life after he meets the Bishop. In effect, it is the Bishop who starts the trend of kindness in Jean, because he himself is kind towards Jean. He takes Jean in when no one else will. He tells the police the Jean did not steal the silver candlesticks, when really Jean did. All he asks for is that Jean be kind towards others in return. Jean does so; he vows to be kind to others, to be kind to everyone else.
For example, Javert, the police inspector, wants badly to arrest Jean, and yet Jean is kind and understanding towards him. He has the chance to kill Javert, and after all Javert has done to him, Jean lets him go. Also, Jean does not like Marius because Marius is secretly wooing Cosette. Jean is protective of his adoptive daughter; he loves her and does not want to let her go. Although Jean despises Marius, when he sees that Marius is in danger and gravely wounded from the battle, Jean saves his life by taking him away. Jean carries Marius, a grown man, on his back through the sewers.
Poverty is the main theme in the novel. First there is Fantine and her daughter Cosette. Fantine has to give her daughter away, because she cannot support both of them. Fantine works long hours in a factory so she can send money to her daughter. She dies before going to reclaim Cosette. The family that takes Cosette in, the Thénardiers, fall upon hard times. They move to a neighbourhood of slums, where the children beg for food. When Marius moves away from his grandfather's house, he too lives in poverty. He lives in the same abysmal building as the Thénardiers. Some night Marius cannot even afford to buy a proper dinner; he has to buy stale bread.
Love is another strong theme in Les Misérables. There is the love between a father and daughter in Jean and Cosette. Cosette, wit her happiness, brings light into Jean's life. He is so happy when she is with him. He is also protective of her; he does not want Marius to take her away. In the end, he lets her marry him, because it is what she wants. He loves her enough to let her go. Another love is that of Marius and Cosette. All it takes is one glance and they have fallen madly in love with each other. The idea of love at first sight in nice, and it is true in the case of Marius and Cosette.
Les Misérables is a novel with themes that almost anyone anywhere can relate to. It is a glance into a time much different from that of the present; where freedom was a gift, not a given. Many of the countries in the world today still have settings like that of Les Misérables; reading this novel really makes the reader appreciate the good things in life.
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