Analysis Of The Book ' Les Miserables '

Cuban history, like many other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean which have experienced colonial subjugation and imperial interference, is highlighted by tumultuous rebellions. Ever since the revolt of Carlos Manuel de Cespedes in 1868, who took up arms with his slaves to liberate Cuba from Spain’s colonial grasp, the existence of insurrectionists and adamant government opposition in Cuba has flourished. Social revolution and a strong will and practice of nationalism has indelibly characterized Cuban history. Nevertheless, the outcomes of particular movements and struggles for social justice have consistently frustrated revolutionary and radical leaders. Government regimes throughout

Throughout history, women have constantly been objectified and forced into submission by the male dominated society. Simone de Beauvoir’s philosophical work, The Second Sex, echoes the intense oppression of women and reflects the first wave feminist movement. Her existentialist decoding of genders resulted in the idea of the Other, which explores the phenomenon of women forced into the role of an object, while men are the subject. In the second chapter, “The Girl”, Beauvoir further studies the idea of this oppression during one’s transition from a girl into a woman. Beauvoir states that no matter how much freedom and sense of self a girl holds, she is always forced into the role of the Other in society. Beauvoir 's idea of the Other held

I agree with the statement that in the novel Les Miserables, the author Victor Hugo is trying to say that human nature is basically good. In the most basic sense, the definition of good trying to do the right thing, even if there are negative consequences. It often means having to sacrifice and give up something to do the right thing. Throughout the book, many characters sacrifice their happiness and morals in order to do what they believe is the right and fair thing. Even when faced with serious consequences for being honest, characters more often than not still choose to do the right thing. Some may argue that Victor Hugo is saying that human nature is basically evil because some characters commit evil actions. However, in most cases, characters don’t always have evil intentions, their execution is just poor and makes them seem evil. Everyone thinks of themselves as a hero, almost everything a character does is because that’s what they believe is the right thing to do. Whether or not it really is could be up for debate but for the most part, most characters don’t have evil intentions and attempt to usually do the right thing. Victor Hugo is saying that as a whole, human nature is inherently good.

Sacrifice is seen throughout the Les Miserables, because it is a prominent part of human living. Sacrifice is greater in those who have less. Hugo conveys sacrifice through the characters Jean Valjean and Fantine, showing how they sacrificed in order to gain a better life, self-forgiveness

The study of race relations in contemporary Cuba indelibly requires an understanding of the dynamic history of race relations in this ethnically pervasive island of the Caribbean. Cuban society, due to its historical antecedents of European colonialism and American imperialism, has traditionally experienced anguished and even tumultuous race relations. Racial disharmony has plagued Cuban society ever since the advent of the Colonial institution of the plantation system. Thus, in order to acquire some understanding of Cuba’s dynamic race relations one must study and investigate the evolution of racial tensions and the quintessential

African Americans were among those that resented the preferential treatment Cuban refugees received. One should keep in mind that this occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, when accumulated racial tensions came to surface in both national and local demonstrations. Therefore, it comes to no surprise that a marginalized group, such as these African Americans in Southern Florida, would feel infuriated at the preferential treatments Cubans received. As Cubans began to enter the business world, African Americans claimed that the new Cuban employers would fire them from the shops and hire their own fellow Cuban exiles (Levine & Asis, 87). Moreover, due to the nature of racism in America being predicated largely on skin color, many white Americans preferred to have a Cuban with a heavy accent and little English capacity than to hire a black worker (Grenier & Perez, 53). This only intensified the resentment because

Therefore, for the purpose of this essay, we will define “increased Spanish autonomy” in terms of the increased influx of Spanish citizens into Cuba seeking to exploit sugar production for financial gains. This definition will also explore the increased taxes and impositions placed on Cuba as a result of its increased importance to the Spanish empire as a sugar exporter and revenue producing colony. This is a change from its less significant economic role before the

In this paper I will discuss what happens when we allow biases and prejudice to affect our actions toward others. I will then conclude my paper with what we can do to prevent or eliminate discrimination.

By the late 19th Century Cuba had developed a unique sense of racial hierarchy which distinguished it from both Latin American countries and the United States. As historian Aline Helg argues in Our Rightful Share: The Afro-Cuban Struggle for Equality, 1886-1912, Cuban racial ideology in these years was based on the claim that there were two distinct races. In addition to whites, there was a ‘raza de color’, made up of blacks and mulattos (3). This two-tiered hierarchy differed from most Latin American countries, which differentiated between blacks and mulattos, or still had a sizeable indigenous population. It also contrasted the prevailing attitude in the United States, which relied on the so-called one-drop rule to define race. Unlike the United States, in Cuba one could have a trace of African ancestry and still be considered white.

In the short story, The Old Chevalier by Isak Dinsen, the male protagonist, Baron von Brackel reflects on his past sexual encounters with two women whose personalities are extremely different from one another. In many novels, short stories and comics authors would create two women as “polar opposites” for a man’s sexual and/or possessive gaze, which is evident in the text. In order to understand, why a man may be attracted to different character traits in women, I will examine The Baron’s attraction to Nathalie and The Mistress by looking at how literary works men portray women, what they find attractive and the fulfilment that men seek from a woman.

One activity in Les Mis that the bishop did which was unconventional for that time, and any time for that matter was the bishop leaving his door unlatched and letting anyone stay in his house no matter who they were, whether he knew them or not. (page 41) Victor Hugo had the bishop do this to show the bishops, faith in God and to emphasize the tenderness of heart the bishop had for anyone. The bishop leaving his door open also really emphasized how he didn’t care who you were, what your past held, and showed how he did not neglect anyone for any erroneous. The bishop only cared about giving you a positive transformation, and helping you have a positive future which has earnest and honest actions.

Les Miserables is a french movie that is all about the life of the “miserables” or the victims and the society they have. It is about how bad the society is, and how they are punished by justice and law, which in the first place the reason why they are suffering. But eventhough how dark it may seem, Les Miserables is actually about the mercy and kindness of the people by even self-sacrfising for the reason of releasing others from the shackles of the law. It is also about spreading love and improving the society.

Les Miserables is a prime example of two individuals conflicted by the “letter of the law” and the “spirit of the law”. The two main characters, Jean Valjean and and Javert, have two different views on morality. There is a difference between the “letter of the law” and the “spirit of the law”. Obeying the what the laws specifically says defines the “letter of the law” and obeying the overall message of the law defines the “spirit of the law”.

Cuba has more of a civic culture than Italy and Iran, due to the authoritarian leadership that exerts influence over the people’s actions of the state. “Gabriel Almond and Sydney Verba describe Italy as a strongly parochial political culture, with people having little trust in others, feeling obligated to participate in the local community, and lacking national pride. Italians, they claimed, were more alienated from than allegiant to their political system” (Raymond 1). As Griest answered her friend, Raul’s question about Canada’s immigration laws, she fired back with a question about Elian Gonzalez, a Cuban-American, who was held in custody over immigration controversy. However, Raul responded, “our job is not to supply foreigners with information

Some people will do anything for those they love, no matter what the cost. In literature, this act of sacrifice is often exaggerated and glorified. Almost every novel contains some example of sacrifice, a giving up of something dear and precious without thought of material repayment. Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables, is no exception. It is, in fact, full to overflowing of sacrifice between its different characters. Two such characters are Eponine and Jean Valjean, who each sacrifice an extraordinary amount to other characters.