Essay on Les Miserables

While at a movie theater, Dally is antagonizing and annoying several Soc girls. Johnny stands up to Dally, his hero, and states, “‘Leave her alone, Dally.’ ‘Huh?’ Dally was taken off guard. He stared at Johnny in disbelief. Johnny couldn't say ‘Boo’ to a goose. Johnny gulped and got a little pale, but he said, ‘You heard me. Leave her alone’” (24). It took all of Johnny’s bravery to stand up to his absolute idol. He was willing to stand up to a dangerous boy that could easily defeat him in a fight, to save others. Not only this, but when a church is burning down with children inside, Ponyboy states, ”Johnny wasn't behaving at all like his old self. ... he grinned at me. He wasn't scared either. That was the only time I can think of when I saw him without that defeated, suspicious look in his eyes” (92). Johnny gives his own life for kids who have futures. He charges into the church at full speed when necessary. Johnny becomes brave in the middle of the

Throughout history, symbols have had an overwhelming presence among citizens. The French Revolution had many symbols that represented power. Did the events leading up to the storming of the Bastille persuade the French citizens to believe that it was a symbol of power? There are many reasons why the French citizens would believe the Bastille to be a symbol of power. It was a very overwhelming stone structure, which stood robust, surrounded by small villages along with farmland. The architecture and placement of this fortress gave itself a reputation of strength and impregnation. It stood by itself, being the most intimidating structure of its time.

Johnny's initial conscience was a force he himself ignored. As an effect of not listening and simply ignoring his conscience Johnny was a stubborn boy and was not liked by many. This pattern grew to more and more hatred towards Johnny. Overtime by being ignorant and not being a good person as his conscience had told him he became crippled. After learning the initial lesson conscience had tried to tell Johnny became a better person. Johnny was more generous towards others and did not think selfishly. In the end of the novel Johnny Tremain became a better person and was important to others as a hero and not a selfish ignorant boy as he was because of conscience.

Because it is discovered that she has an illegitimate child, she is fired so she does not influence the young girls she works with. The woman in charge of the factory quickly judge Fantine for making one mistake and label her a prostitute. Once her story gets out in the small town, she is unable to get a real job. Needing money to support herself and Cosette, she resorts to prostitution. When attacked, Javert arrests her and tells Valjean and Fantine that she is in the wrong. Javert believes that Fantine is always going to be a prostitute and should be put in prison.

Fauchelevent calls out “where art thou?,” “help,” cried old Fauchelevent. “Who is a good fellow to save an old man?” (Hugo, 2003, p. 109). Everyone is standing around leaving poor Fauchelevent to die. Valjean tries to find an alternative way of saving Fauchelevent, such as getting a jack, but Fauchelevent would be dead by the time it got there. Valjean informs everyone that there is enough room under the wagon for a man to crawl under and lift the weight, but “nobody [stirs] in the crowd” (Hugo, 2003, p. 110). Javert notes that “fearsome men are needed to lift the wagon…I have known but one man capable of doing what you call for” (Hugo, 2003, p. 110). The old man yells out that he is dying and Valjean offers to pay someone to save Fauchelevent. Yet again, no one rises to the occasion, therefore, without saying a word Valjean falls to his knees and saves Fauchelevent despite the fact that Javert watches him the entire time. Valjean answers Fauchelevent’s “where are though” which his “here I am” when he saves him.

Well running away they are reunited with Dallas later they cross paths with a burning church action must be taken to safe some kids traped inside. Ponyboy goes into the church Johnny chooses to follow. They save the children but at a terrible praise Johnny is crushed by a rafter beam and breaks his back, Dallas and Ponyboy are also burned. Because they saved the kids, they became heroes; but that does very little to help Johnny who was put in critical care. When he hears of this Ponyboy becomes upset with himself for allowing Johnny to follow him. Well both Dallas and Johnny are in the hospital the whole gang become scared for them but ponyboy takes it the hardest this is displayed when they said “We both begged and pleaded.(119)” because they were unable to see Johnny. After Johnny’s health worsens Ponyboy goes into denial refusing to expect it. Ponyboy feels more guilty when it becomes clear Johnny will not make it this is inferred when it is written that ”He was pale as the pillow and looked

The book begins with the convict, Jean Valjean, being released from a French Prison. He has served nineteen years for stealing a loaf of bread and subsequent escape attempts. He is set free, but only with his identification papers yellow. This marks him as criminal, and now in the new town, no one is willing to house him. In despair, Jean Valjean goes to the bishop M. Myriel. The kind man allows him to stay, but Jean Valjean repays him by stealing the bishop’s silverware then running for it.

All humans have different morals that change based on their environment and circumstance. Jean Valjean, in the novel Les Miserables(1961), changes from someone with confused morals to a man with more morals than most whom with respect learns to love and share.

During his eight years in hiding, Valjean became a wealthy factory owner and the mayor of a town called Montreuil-sur-Mer. A worker in Valjean’s factory named Fantine, has her secret of sending money to the Thénardiers, the caretakers of her child, Cosette, exposed, and is fired from her job. Fantine, left with no other options, resorts to prostitution to support Cosette. During an altercation with an abusive customer, now police inspector, Javert, arrests Fantine, but Valjean stops him, and takes Fantine to a hospital where she is diagnosed with a terminal case of tuberculosis. While at the hospital, Valjean learns that a man suspected to be the missing prisoner himself, is put on trial for a crime he

Javert’s narrow mindedness is put to the test when Jean Valjean spares his life is and as a result changes Javert’s life that benefits society. Javert continuing on the only path he had known becomes a spy for the French National Guard during the June rebellion, however not a very good one. He gets captured by the leaders of the rebellion for being a spy and would have been shot dead instantly if it wasn't for more imminent matters that the ABC’s had to take care of. They leave him tied up waiting

Jean Valjean dedicates his entire life to providing for and protecting Cosette. She in turn gives him the strength

Javert changes as well, near the end of the novel. After helping Jean Valjean, he “felt that something horrible was penetrating his soul, admiration for a convict” (Hugo, 2009 531). He finally “reflected . . . there was a matter for self-examination,” of his actions and of his beliefs. Javert, mister president of the club to persecute Jean Valjean, finally admired someone he has despised for years.

Marius described the Jondrettes plan to kill Valjean to Javert. Javert then gave him 2 pistols and told him to look into the hole of the house when the Jondrette’s were going to kill Valjean.

Alexandre Dumas’s novels and in particular The Three Musketeers are so great for his ability to mix fact with fiction. As a historical novel, The Three Musketeers bases its story around some major characters and events of 17th century, French history. Cardinal Richelieu, Anne of Austria, and other important characters really lived and acted the way they do in the novel. In fact, the historical basis of Dumas's story extends all the way to his initial idea for the novel, even to the Musketeers and d’Artagnan themselves.(history 1)

The French are all about preserving their culture and being individualized. They often take great pride in the French products and the French style, and believe in keeping the French culture “pure” so they also limit the amount of foreign goods that are being imported. But during the World Wars the French began to allow foreigners to immigrate into France to take jobs due to an increase in job shortages. The immigration from the World Wars added to the diversity of the French culture. Ever since the 1850’s there has been a steady flow of immigration into France, and now nine percent of the French population is made up of immigrants (Gofen 62). The break down of the cultures in France is eighty-five percent of the French population is Roman