Victor Hugo Foils

Throughout her novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley consistently used other characters to show who Victor Frankenstein was as a person. She used his mother, best friend, future lover, creation, and Robert Walton to demonstrate how he reacted to certain situations and how he needed other people around him to show his true character. Although Shelley wrote in multiple foils for Frankenstein, Walton and the monster both consistently had Victor show who he truly was. In a way, Walton is the best foil for Frankenstein because they are both so similar and both craved glory for their discoveries, but Walton never shared the same weaknesses as Frankenstein. The monster was a part of Victor. He was Frankenstein’s creation, and shared parts of him that no

Opposites don’t always attract. In Edith Wharton’s “Roman Fever”, the two main characters seem to be almost complete opposites of each other. In fact, it can be argued that they are actually foils of each other. Foils in literature are described as “a foil is a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character with the objective to highlight the traits of the other character” (LiteraryDevices Editors). Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade seem to at first be foils of each other, but only on the last page and in the finale act of the story do we see that Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade may not be so different after all.

Author Ray Bradbury once quoted, “There are worse crimes than burning books; one is not reading them”. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury, a crazy-dumb society has banned books for no reason. If someone is caught reading or even owning a book, they will be brought to jail, and the book and the owners house perish by the hot flames of the firemen. It is up to Guy Montag to attempt to make the law like it used to be. In Fahrenheit 451, the foils to Montag, Clarisse and Mildred, serve as opposites by their different effects on Montag.

Marius Pontmercy should not be convicted for his participation in the rebellion against the French government because it was not a direct assault on the government. First, the friends of Marius were very involved in the uprising and Marius felt an obligation to support his friends in their cause since they had been so supportive of him. Second, Marius’ father, Georges Pontmercy, was a soldier in Napoleon's army. He was dedicated to a cause he believed in and because Marius had a great respect for his father, he probably wanted to honor his legacy by following that example determination. Finally, the night of the uprising was the night Maris learned of Jean Valjean’s plan to leave with his daughter Cosette. Since Marius loved Cosette he was utterly devastated to discover she was leaving him. This shock caused him to feel as though there were no purpose to his life so his involvement in the barricade was a way to escape his depression.

Like many innocent people, the letters from Alfred are filled with the questions on the verdict and claims of innocence. He used these questions once sentenced to restore his honor by acquittal. These positive thoughts of acquittal prevented his suicide on Devil’s Island (Dreyfus 138). Although Alfred Dreyfus was not directly advocating for political, economic, cultural, social, or military change, his attempts to advocate for his innocence led to a political and cultural divide in France. The Dreyfus Affair was a main cause of the tremendous unrest in France. It unleased a strong anti-Semitism movement in France because of a perceived failure of the justice system (Fischel 119). It deeply divided France in politics, religion, and national identity. The acquittal of Alfred Dreyfus gave justice to him and marked a turning point in history, in which it was “a magnificent step forward in an era of progress for ideas of liberty, of justice, and of social solidarity” (Dreyfus 241).

Charles dickens does not agree with the results of what happened in the French revolution. They were allover the place with their laws and imprisoned people for no reason. “you are consigned, evre'monde, to the prison of La Force… under what law?... we have new laws and new offences…”[4] an innocent man is sent to prison, exactly how it has been before the French revolution.

Javert relentlessly pursues Jean Valjean throughout the novel who wishes to make him pay for past errors. When Jean Valjean has the chance to get revenge on Javert by killing him, he doesn’t. Jean Valjean redeems Javert because God redeemed him.

When all Valjean wanted was to buy food, not to steal or rob but only to buy food, yet he is thrown out because he is speculated to be dangerous. Not only did the people refuse to serve him but the news articles lie about his actions. When Valjean reveals that he was the criminal wanted, stealing again because he was given no option, he was arrested and news articles create lies claiming he was an extremely dangerous man, a “wretch, who is endowed with herculean strength, managed to escape, but, three or four days afterward,the police retook him,in Paris, just as he was getting into of the small vehicles,”(141). The news conveyed Valjean as menace to society but in reality it was the other way around. Before Valjean’s arrest, he became a great person for the town of Montreuil-sur-mer creating a kind community yet all that is overwritten with the lies fed up by the news. The people completely forget all good in him, caring only for the “trouble” he caused. Furthermore, when Valjean reveals to Marius that he is an ex-convict, Marius also condemns

Victor Hugo very obviously illustrates Jean Valjean’s internal turmoil in the opening of the novel. He is constantly battling with himself. For instance, take when Javert apologizes to Monsieur Madeleine [Jean Valjean] for assuming that he was a “former convict” (Hugo 80 emphasis added), and then further goes on to explain to Monsieur that “the real Jean Valjean has been found…the rogue was caged” (81). Jean Valjean is shocked and at that moment, he decides not to reveal himself to Javert and goes home with a question in his mind. Should he be truthful and spare this innocent man’s life or should he continue to act unaware and continue to lie about who he is and live with the fact that an innocent man was wrongfully accused? “His sense of justice cannot bear to see an innocent man go to jail in his stead” (Harper 1) but if he were to do right, he would be revealing himself, losing all the work he had put in to redeem himself and would most definitely end up back in the galleys. Similar to Valjean, we are always going back and forth between our perceptions of what is right or wrong, what is good or evil, and what is just or unjust. In the novel, after speaking to Javert, he locks himself in his home “bolts his door… [attempting to barricade] himself against all possibilities of being left alone with “his conscience” (Hugo 87). One’s conscience drives one’s thoughts and decisions. At

Victor Hugo was born at the time of romanticism. He was one of the leaders of the Romantic Movement in French literature because of his writings. Victor Hugo is considered one of the most influential people from the time of romanticism. Victor Hugo impacted many poets who are considered as important as him. Victor Hugo influenced literature by his works in fiction, drama, and poetry.

The French Revolution was a series of revolts against the monarchy during the years 1789-1799. The cultural impact of the revolution is evident in modern day French culture in how they handle political and social disagreements. Jean ValJean’s story could be told in any other historical context that involves a basis of a dissatisfied, poor

Valjean comes to taker her from the family and to give her an opportunity for a better future. Javert however had many opportunities at self-redemption but choose to not change. After getting out of prison Valjean runs into Javert years later and recognize each other. Although Javert knows that Valjean has changed and became a better person he chooses to turn him in for being a convict.

The song “The Confrontation” in the movie Les Misérables is a duet between Jean Valjean and Javert right after Fantine’s death. This scene from the movie is quite different from what happens in the book. For example, in the book, Javert’s arrival shocks Fantine, causing her death. In the movie, she has already died by the time Javert shows up.

When we live in a world full of injustice, it is easy to become uncompassionate. But, on the rare occasion that we are shown compassion and pity, we should show it back. This situation occurred between Javert and Valjean towards the end of the book. In a twist of events, Javert gets taken prisoner in Enjolras barricade and is sentenced to death. Valjean takes up the task of killing Javert but surprisingly spares his life. Shortly after this event takes place, Javert and Valjean encounter each other once again. This time, Valjean truly turns himself in and explains to Javert that he is ready for any punishment; however, he asks for two favors. Surprisingly, the no- admitting-exceptions Javert allows this. Both Valjean and Javert are shocked about this. Javert explains that “he saw before him two roads, both equally straight, but he saw two, and that terrified him...these two roads were contradictory. One of these two straight lines excluded the other. Which of the two was the true one?” (Hugo 530). Since this is the first time Javert has contradicted himself even slightly, he questions his whole belief system asking “which of the two [roads] was the true one.” It is clear that there two contradictory roads represent the law and his conscience. This is a surprising question because from what we know about Javert, he knows what he believes in like the back of his hand and he would

Fortunately, in the end Jean Valjean turned his life around and became a better person. The Bishop helped him turn his life around by giving him a chance to be a better person.” Jean Valjean my brother you no longer belong to evil. With this silver, I have bought your soul. I have ransomed you from fear and hatred, and now I give you back to God”. The Bishop knew that Jean Valjean wasn’t evil and deserved a chance to