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In his novel Les Miserables, Victor Hugo portrays some of the deepest human emotions through several well-constructed characters. He pushes forth several themes from which we were and are meant to learn from. Perhaps by reading this novel, we may learn a few lessons in human nature. He explains in the suttlest of ways the human nature but he doesn’t clearly state the reasons for why we as human beings act the way we do. The main characters in the novel are the core of it, and demonstrate human nature, so to say, at its best. Jean Valjean, one of the main characters, is a naïve and innocent man, guilty of stealing bread, something many people would excuse but, by the law, is cast into The Galleys. During his stay in the Galleys, Jean Valjean’s “intelligence is developed and sharpened in the oppressive thoughts of imprisonment.” When he leaves, he is “cunning, formidable and dangerous”; the Galleys have taught him well. Along his way, Jean Valjean meets Bishop Bienvenu, who represents charity, faith in self-sacrifice, confidence in Charity considered as the most perfect means of moral instruction. The Bishop is kind to Jean Valjean, considering the fact that everyone else in the town of M___ sur M___ refused him for anything. But somehow Jean Valjean, being the ‘dangerous’ man that he is, overlooks this kindness and repays him with a second theft, of silver. After Jean Valjean leaves during the middle of the night, he is brought back by the authorities, and the Bishop, being the kind man that he is, overlooks Jean Valjean’s actions and saves him. He tells the authorities that the silver was a gift. Jean Valjean from then on believes that pardoning people and charity are the only way to go in order to dissipate darkness.
Approximate Word count = 1191
Approximate Pages = 4.8
(250 words per page double spaced)
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