Character Analysis: To Read Or Not To Read Les Miserables

In his novel Hugo addresses the need for social reform and change in the crumbling and corrupt streets of French society. He specifically emphasizes improvement in education, the justice system, and the attitude of society towards women, and their political impact on French culture. Hugo does this particularly through Fantine, a woman who resorts to prostitution after being dismissed from her job as a factory worker; in addition to the existence of her illegitimate daughter, Cosette, her blemished reputation disables her from working in another reputable place. Because of Fantine’s shortage of an education and of society’s negative view of women abused by noble men, she is representative of the social injustices against women during this time. She’s illustrative of the gulf in France’s hierarchical system. Her condemnation to a life as a prostitute after being used by an aristocratic man highlights the social shortcomings present in the nobility’s attitude towards the lower classes, which continued to suffer. The misfortune that falls on Jean Valjean, an innocent man who only stole bread to help his dying sister, also represents the crookedness of France’s justice system. Valjean is likened to a habitual criminal and thrown in jail for nineteen years, an absurd sentence for only a loaf of bread. What’s worse is that he’s

Tom Joad is best known in the novel for being in prison for four years. Do to prison time, Tom molded into someone who devotes his time and energy to the present moment. The future does not concern Tom as of now. Tom is in fear of driving himself angry and mad if he is focused on the future. He fears putting his life in a context larger than the present day.

Reverend Dimmesdale is a beloved Puritan minister who's Hester's paramour and father of Pearl. One of rivaling enemies is Chillingworth, physician and Hester's husband, who suspects Dimmesdale is Pearl's father. He begins to notice Dimmesdale declining health and considers moving in with him to ‘nurse him back to health.’ However, as a means of revenge, he takes the opportunity to implement torture and pain upon him. One night, when Dimmesdale falls asleep, Chillingworth sneaks a glance at his chest and discovers a carving within his chest. He then dances with glee and enjoys the sight of subtle torture Dimmesdale has self-inflicted since the “doctor’s joy from Satan’s was the quality of wonder.” The discovery of Dimmesdale's chest may have

In the middle of the book, Jean Valjean has saved a young girl named Cosette and raised her as his daughter after her mother died. These actions also have a redeeming effect on Jean Valjean, as he put his promise to the girl’s mother before his own safety and escaped from another bout in prison to find the young girl. Jean Valjean does not think this redeems him, however. He is very suspicious and changes their names to hide from the law enforcement. He also became very suspicious and cagey when a young man, Marius, became interested in Cosette. In Marius’s words, he “ began to be less punctual, and did not bring ‘his daughter’ every day” (168). After some time, he and Cosette move away so Marius cannot find them. Jean Valjean thinks he is

Fahrenheit 451 is a novel based on a character amed Montag and the life he lives. Throughout the novel his belief will be challenged and he will begin to see the world he and the other characters live in differently. Overtime the man who he was will not be the man he becomes. His beliefs, the characters who have influenced him, and the ways that Montag changes will all be discussed in this essay.

Throughout the novel, the readers have the ability to follow along Jeanette’s life story. She deals with her distracted yet present parents. They remind her of the important lessons in life. One of the most important lessons that Jeannette learns is that life will eventually work in the end and if it still isn't working that just means it is not the end

These passages are about women’s suffrage. The first is against women’s suffrage, the second strongly for, and the last is neutrally for feminism. All three are very different and show the contrasting opinions of the time.

Poverty pushes Fantine to make sacrifices throughout the book. She is forced to sacrifice raising her child, Cosette, and leaving her to strangers, because poverty has left her no means to take care of

Similarly, another critic believes that the morals and peer pressure of a dauntless society are what causes Man to become evil. This evil slowly forces them to progress into “hardened ruffians” that are forced to resort to a pis aller in order to regain some hope for themselves. Thus, society cannot evolve (Lewes 245). Contrary to what Reeves believes, Critic Moss believes that misfortune is the sole cause of one’s faults and that the main theme of the novel is the barrier between “those who choose degradation and those who are driven to it” (228). Furthermore, the critic Napierkowski believes that the meaning of life is love and that through the love that all people receive, any number of traits can be changed. She explicates that change is extremely relevant in the case of Jean Valjean who is a convict turned upstanding citizen. She also recalls that in the novel Valjean is only transformed due to the love he receives from the Bishop of Digne, who gave Valjean everything that he had (Novels for Students). Reeves, again, also explores the concept that Hugo is trying to prove that humans need to love each other for the world to be a happier place (Masterplots). Thus, through evidence in Les Misérables, the aforementioned themes can easily be proven.

Jean Valjean sacrificed much as he sought redemption. One of the first sacrifices that Jean Valjean makes is that of his identity, during the Champmathieu affair. As Monsieur Madeleine, Jean Valjean was a trusted official in a high position. He struggled with himself when he heard that the ‘real’ Jean Valjean had been caught: should he stay in M—sur m—where he was comfortable and popular, or do the right thing, remove a man from an undeserved galley life, and become a convict once more. When Madeleine revealed himself as Jean Valjean, he forever gave up that comfortable position of authority. He became a convict again – a wanted convict. He would now live out the rest of his life hiding, of not running, from the police. Jean sacrificed his safety. Saving Marius’ life by carrying him through the sewers also proved to be a sacrifice. Jean’s entire existence revolved around Cosette. She was what kept him on the track the bishop set him on. He adored her. He was devastated to learn that she was in love with Marius, yet he saved

When I first learned I had to read “Rip Van Winkle” I assumed it was going to be just another story that I was going to dread reading. However, after reading the first paragraph of “Rip Van Winkle” I knew it was different and then before I knew it I had flown through the pages like there was no tomorrow. “Rip Van Winkle” is full of remarkable yet strange characters, mesmerizing landscapes, and magical and mysterious events.

"True redemption is when guilt leads to good" (Khaled Hosseini). Not one person on earth is completely free from wrongs. Humans have lapses in judgement that can hurt them and others. Some people believe you can be redeemed and can put your wrongs behind you, these people are kind and generous. Others believe you have one chance to get it right, these people are often angry and judgmental. There are also those who believe that someone can't be redeemed, but begin to realize that people can change. By looking at the Bishop, Javert, and Jean Valjean and their actions it becomes clear that Les Miserables is a book about redemption coming to those who did wrongs in their past and the behaviors of those who believe and don't believe.

Hugo includes love in his novel to express the different types and meanings of true love. Marius waits to see Cossette and she does not show up. After going to the garden and realizing Cossette is not there, Marius was devastated. "He sat down upon the steps, his heart full of tenderness and resolution, he blessed his love in the depths of his thought, and he said to himself that since Cosette was gone, there was nothing more for him but to die" (274 Hugo). Marius' love for Cossette is so strong that without her he is incomplete. Cossette often received the short end of the stick while growing up with Eponine and the Thenardiers; however, this is not the case when it comes to winning over Marius' love. Hugo uses Marius to show two completely different kinds of love in his novel; one with Cossette, and the other with Eponine. Eponine lives a very different life as her parents, the Thenardiers, are not the best role models for her. Even though she grows up in a tough situation, she still knows how to love. Eponine falls in love with Marius, however the feeling is not mutual. When Marius finds Eponine on the ground during the battle at the barricades, he shares love with her as her life comes to an end. He does not have the same love for Eponine as he does for Cossette. After revealing two gunshot wounds to Marius, Eponine asks him to stay until her life ends. As soon as

In the early 19th century, most women were subject to gender discrimination and viewed as weaker components in France. One of the first characters attacked by such injustice is the former factory worker and prostitute, Fantine. Having been discovered as a mother of an illegitimate child, Fantine is thrown out of the work place and turns towards prostitution instead. Deprived of hope and redemption, Fantine endures through much suffering and harassment from her male superiors in order to provide for her child. While walking down the street one evening, Fantine passes by a man, who, “taking advantage of the moment when she turns... seizes a handful of snow from the sidewalk, and throws it hastily down her back between her naked shoulders” (69). Enraged, Fantine lashes out at the man, only to be blamed later on for attacking

Les Miserables is a characteristic romantic work in both theme and form. In theme the novel assaults the traditional social structure, glorifies freedom of thought and spirit, and makes a hero of the average individual. In this novel the several characters were portrayed as heros. It follows the lives and interactions of several French