Les Miserables Sacrifice

The novel The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini introduces multiple cases in which society defines people as well as the novel Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. In Les Miserables, Cosette is introduced as the daughter of Fantine. She was given to the Thenardiers, a family who owned an Inn and treated her like a slave. Since a young age she was made to take the role of a grown women. She was saved by Jean ValJean, a formal criminal who changed his life.

Sacrifice is being willing to give up something good for something better. Life is full of boundless possibilities, but in order to transform a possibility into a reality we have to choose -- giving up the many in order to attain the one. Sacrifice is the ability to protect others for their sake. not yours. It has flaws if you think selfishly; It has no flaws if you think selflessly. Cyrano de Bergerac, written by Edmond Rostand, takes place in Paris, France. Cyrano loves Roxane but feels he is too ugly to woo her. Cyrano has to overcome the severe self-doubt and shame that result from his awkward appearance in order to reveal to Roxane that he wrote Christian’s love letters. A Doll’s House takes place in Norway. Nora's struggle with Krogstad,

"It is precisely of him that I wished to speak. Dispose of me as you please; but help me first to carry him home. I only ask that of you." Upon examination of Les Miserables, it is clearly evident that the elements of Forgiveness, Self – Sacrifice, and Courage are only a few of the main themes Hugo wanted to develop.

Even though some sacrafices are not neccesary, they hardest ones are made for those who you love. Sacrifice plays a major role as one of the main themes in the Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. Sacrifices were made for the mothers and daughters which were fueled by love and honor, such as when An-Mei sacrificed her own flesh and blood for her dying mother, Suyuan giving up her children so they could live a happy life, and An-Mei risking her life and sacrificing a sapphire ring from her mother. These were all made for the sake of somebody else's good and for love of somebody else.

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

We know that Antigone and Ismene lost their father in war, and then their brothers died in battle at the hands of one another. The one brother, Polyneices, was left on the field to die and unburied. This was because Polyneices, decided to fight against Thebes in battle and chose Argos. The brother Eteocles fought for Thebes and Creon. The two sisters are all that is left of Oedipus. Now in the play you feel pity for the two sisters having lost so much at this stage in life and that they have experienced so much death and in such horrible situations.

Desiree is dependent upon Armand like a slave to a master.  Her unconditional love for Armand despite her subordinate position in the relationship illustrates how truly dependent she is upon him.

Similarly to Rosa Parks, Antigone also advocates for fair treatment for her brother, Polyneices. Even though it is not for a large group of people, she is still standing up to the unequal treatment between her two brothers, Eteocles and Polyneices. After having a quarrel, both of Antigone's’ brothers died in battle; however, Creon (the ruler during this time) insisted that only Eteocles will receive a proper burial with many honors, but Polyneices will not because he is a traitor (Antigone.1.15-19). This is unfair because Polyneices fought just as hard and bravely as Eteocles. He also sacrificed his life because of the fight. Antigone, who believes in justice, did not appreciate the fact that Polyneices was not buried because he was in the same circumstances as Eteocles; therefore, they should both receive the same treatment. As a result, Antigone buries Polyneices herself because she is aware of how much both of her brothers sacrificed. Because she wants the her brothers to receive the identical amount of recognition, she stands up for Polyneices and buries him when everyone else was against that idea.

Like Creon, Antigone also never falters in standing up for what she believes in. Although Creon fights for stubborn pride, Antigone is trying to promote what is right and shows her higher reverence for God’s law rather than for Creon’s laws. In the eyes of the townspeople, Chorus, Choragos, and Haimon, Antigone is sacrificing herself to give her brother Polyneices the rightful honors due to the dead. Many side with this brave, honorable girl because she would rather suffer persecution and even death rather than give into Creon’s illogical demands. In the play, the chorus says about her, “You have made your choice, Your death is the doing of your conscious hand”. Antigone knew of the consequences before she acted and in doing so she chose her fate. At the time, she pleaded her sister Ismene to help her bury Polyneices but was rejected. Despite being alone in trying to rebel and perhaps she may have been afraid, Antigone goes out of her way and puts her life on the line to bring her brother respect.

Everyone needs someone to love and care for as well as someone who can return that love and care. When Cosette comes into Valjean’s life, it makes him feel something he didn’t feel in a long time, “When he saw Cosette, when he had taken her, carried her away, and rescued her, he felt his heart move” (123). At this point, she becomes more than just a girl but another symbol in Valjean’s

In the melodramatic novel, A Tale of Two Cities, by Charles Dickens, the author uses the theme sacrifice. He shows that sacrifice is important in his story because some of his characters must give up their lives for another. Miss Pross dedicates herself to Lucie because she wants Lucie to have a brighter future than she did. Then, out of his love and devotion for Lucie Manette, Sydney Carton sacrifices his life to save a life she loves. The sacrifices Miss Pross and Sydney Carton make express that mankind will give everything for what they love and believe in.

She has no choice. Her death, if that is what it must come to in order to accomplish the burial of her brother, will be better than the death of her brother without her bravery, that is to say, a death without honor. When they part Ismene tells her sister that she is unwise, and yet a loyal friend to those who love her.

Saving Private Ryan has been a huge commercial success since its release in 1998. According to Boxofficemojo.com, Saving Private Ryan’s worldwide gross is $481,840,909 with over half that just from the domestic US market alone. Not only was this film a financial success, it is also critically acclaimed. The film has won 79 awards; five of those are Oscars, and another 62 nominations for just about every category that there is to be nominated for. More recently Saving Private Ryan was awarded a place on the National Film Presentation Board in 2014. (IMDB)

Not only is Antigone courageous and highly motivated by her morals by standing up for her political and religious beliefs, she also protects her personal ones when she buries her brother. Antigone places family above her own life, and she refuses to let a man stand in her way of maintaining her ideals. She buries Polynices out of her own loyalty to her brother even after her sister, Ismene, refuses. Antigone is cruel to her for not taking part in illegally burying their brother. Instead of being caring and considerate, she becomes irate and at the end of their conversation says, "Go away Ismene: I shall be hating you soon, and the dead will too, for your hateful words," Antigone's flaw was her headstrong behavior and her stubbornness, which ultimately brought about her downfall and the downfall of those around her. Her persistence of course, is what forces Antigone to rashly take matters in to her own hands. Creon then decides to take Antigone's life "Away with her at once, and close her up in her rock-vaulted tomb. Leave her and let her die". To everyone's surprise Antigone does not run from her death sentence suggesting a great trait of braveness, which the chorus recognizes before her exodus from life. The notion that a person has no say in the affairs of their loved ones and the fact that those laws were defied deserves

Cosette is deprived of the love that she desires and deserves. She longs for love and instead receives the opposite. The Thenardiers do not care for Cosette and do not view her as their child, to them she is a servant girl. When Jean Valjean offers to take Cosette away from the Thenardiers, they reply, “Ah monsieur! My good monsieur! Take her, keep her, take her away, carry her off, sugar her, stuff her, drink her, eat her, and be blessed by the holy Virgin and all the saints in paradise!” (154). The Thenardiers want Cosette out of their house, and no longer want the responsibility of taking care of the “imbecile child” (147). It is a blessing to them that this traveler has come to take Cosette away forever. Because of Jean Valjean's good deed, Cosette's life can improve and she can finally experience the emotion of love she longs for. Although Jean Valjean offers Cosette all the love he is capable of giving, it is not enough to satisfy Cosette. She craves for a different, romantic love after she is introduced to Marius. Hugo,