The symbols in the novel help the reader understand what everything is and why Hugo put it in the novel. They are something to watch for throughout the book and they show meaning behind a character, place or thing.
Silver Candlesticks
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In the novel, the silver candlesticks represented forgiveness. They were used as a reminder for the character Jean Valjean to become a good man. The bishop gave Jean Valjean the candlesticks to become honest, and it showed that he forgave him for his mistakes. Ever since he received the candlesticks, he became a happy, successful man and became Monsieur the Mayor. He kept the candlesticks in his room which represents him changing and becoming a different person in a good way. Also, every time Jean Valjean moved to another place, he always brought the candlesticks with him and remembered what the bishop had done for him. Towards the end of the novel, Jean Valjean lights a candle on each candlestick because he knows he's about to die. He lights the candles to show that he wants God and the bishop to be there with him.
Hair and Teeth
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The hair and teeth represent self-sacrifice in the novel. This symbol links to the character Fantine. Fantine was fired from her job because she was a single mother. The Thénardiers sent letters to Fantine asking to send money to support Cosette. She wanted to save Cosette so she tried everything to get money to send to the Thénardiers. First, she decided to cut her hair and sell it. She bought a woolen skirt and sent it to the Thénardiers knowing Cosette would be warm. After that, Fantine needed to get money so Cosette would have medicine to get better so she sold her two front teeth to send the money. Selling her hair and teeth show a major sacrifice that Fantine did for someone she loved which is a major symbol in the novel.
Yellow Passport
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The yellow passport is a very important symbol in Les Mis. It symbolizes and links to Jean Valjean because it reveals his true identity. In the beginning of the novel, Jean Valjean's yellow passport was used so that the people in town could identify him as a convict. Because of it, everyone treated him poorly just because he was a convict. The bishop was kind enough to treat Jean Valjean as everyone else despite him having the yellow passport, and he changed Jean Valjean into a great person. Even though Jean Valjean changed his name many times throughout the novel, he always kept his yellow passport because it helped him remember the person he truly is.
Pontmercy's Letter
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Pontmercy's Letter was also a symbol in the novel. It links to Marius because Pontmercy is Marius' father and he wrote it for him. Pontmercy explained in the letter that he loved Marius. He also explained to him how he was in battle at Water loo and a man saved him. Pontmercy said a man named Thénardier had saved his life, and he requested Marius to honor him. Marius realized that his father did love him, and he respected him and so he loved him from then on. Also, Marius spends his time searching for Thénardier to follow his father's words to do whatever he wanted. Marius pays the rent for a family next door at the place he stayed at, which happened to be Thénardier's family. Once Marius finally realizes who the family next door is, he realizes that they con people and he saves Jean Valjean from getting killed in the ambush.
Cosette's Baby Clothes
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Cosette's baby clothes symbolize Cosette as a young child when Jean Valjean met her. It links to Jean Valjean because he keeps these clothes and treasures them in a little box. He does that to remember Cosette as a young child, and because he loved her so much, he keeps it to treasure the memories. Jean Valjean did not want Cosette to grow up, therefore, he keeps these clothes in a box to show his love for her. But, when Cosette finally marries, Jean Valjean realizes he must let his only love and the only thing he had in his life go. He opens the box, takes out the clothes and reminisces the memories he and Cosette had together. He cries with the clothes in his hands, and realizes that it was time to say goodbye to Cosette.