There are many instances where these themes and motifs are shown and it really makes Les Misérables more interesting. Plus, it makes the mood of the reader change greatly. Simple themes like this, make the book more easy and exciting to read.
Love and Compassion
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The theme love and compassion is expressed greatly throughout the novel. The first time love and compassion was presented in the novel was when the old lady handed Jean Valjean money and led him to the bishop's house. This was a very big moment for Jean Valjean and the reader because now Jean Valjean will change and the reader will get to see that throughout the whole book.
Also, another point where the reader can see love and compassion was when Fantine gave Cosette to the Thénardiers. People might say that this is a very bad idea on Fantine's part, but she really must love her daughter if she's giving her up to some strangers who she thinks are good people. A mother's pride and joy is her daughter. This was a very emotional part for the reader, because then Fantine's life just spiraled out of control from there on out.
After Fantine's death, love and compassion is everywhere when Jean Valjean goes to get Cosette. Once he gets Cosette, his life is great. He finally has found his first love, "When he saw Cosette, when he had taken her, carried her away, and rescued her, he felt his heart had moved. All that he had of feeling and affection was aroused and vehemently attracted towards this child. He would approach the bed where she slept, and would tremble there with delight; he felt inward yearnings, like a mother, and knew not what they were; for it is something very incomprehensible and very sweet, this grand emotion of a heart in its first love" (Hugo 123). This is a huge turning point in the novel because now Jean Valjean has found someone he loves. He's never felt this feeling before, but yet he loves her like she's his own. Although the father-daughter love that they have lasted a very long time and is still always there, soon enough Cosette had to find someone to love. At the end of the novel, mostly everyone is miserable somehow, but they still show a great deal of love and compassion towards one another.
Also, another point where the reader can see love and compassion was when Fantine gave Cosette to the Thénardiers. People might say that this is a very bad idea on Fantine's part, but she really must love her daughter if she's giving her up to some strangers who she thinks are good people. A mother's pride and joy is her daughter. This was a very emotional part for the reader, because then Fantine's life just spiraled out of control from there on out.
After Fantine's death, love and compassion is everywhere when Jean Valjean goes to get Cosette. Once he gets Cosette, his life is great. He finally has found his first love, "When he saw Cosette, when he had taken her, carried her away, and rescued her, he felt his heart had moved. All that he had of feeling and affection was aroused and vehemently attracted towards this child. He would approach the bed where she slept, and would tremble there with delight; he felt inward yearnings, like a mother, and knew not what they were; for it is something very incomprehensible and very sweet, this grand emotion of a heart in its first love" (Hugo 123). This is a huge turning point in the novel because now Jean Valjean has found someone he loves. He's never felt this feeling before, but yet he loves her like she's his own. Although the father-daughter love that they have lasted a very long time and is still always there, soon enough Cosette had to find someone to love. At the end of the novel, mostly everyone is miserable somehow, but they still show a great deal of love and compassion towards one another.
Social Injustice
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Even to this day, there is social injustice in this world, but in Les Misérables Jean Valjean was the only one to receive it throughout the whole book. It all starts when Jean Valjean steals bread for his family. He gets arrested and spends nineteen years in prison. Just five years for the bread, but fourteen more years for his numerous attempts to escape. After he was let out of prison, he is treated horribly. Kids throw rocks at him, people laugh at him and he is treated like he is still some criminal when he really isn't. The yellow passport is just the whole reason why he can never go anywhere.
The first time he tried to find a place to stay he tried an inn called La Croix de Colbas. At first, the host, Jacquin Labarre, just thought of him as a poor man and asked for money. He even gave Jean a room, until he received a letter from the mayor telling him of Jean's criminal background. He says to Jean, "Shall I tell you your name? Your name is Jean Valjean; now shall I tell you who you are? When I saw you enter, I suspected something. I sent to the mayor's office, and here is the reply. Can you read?" (Hugo 7). There is huge social injustice here because Jacquin is not only telling Jean Valjean that he looked suspicious but he is asking him if he knows how to read too.
Jean tries four more places and they all don't accept him until he gets to the bishop's house. Then, throughout the rest of the book, he has to hide who he is because Javert, follows him so he can arrest an innocent man. Once Javert dies, Jean Valjean goes back to being a poor person who everyone makes fun of, yet again.
The first time he tried to find a place to stay he tried an inn called La Croix de Colbas. At first, the host, Jacquin Labarre, just thought of him as a poor man and asked for money. He even gave Jean a room, until he received a letter from the mayor telling him of Jean's criminal background. He says to Jean, "Shall I tell you your name? Your name is Jean Valjean; now shall I tell you who you are? When I saw you enter, I suspected something. I sent to the mayor's office, and here is the reply. Can you read?" (Hugo 7). There is huge social injustice here because Jacquin is not only telling Jean Valjean that he looked suspicious but he is asking him if he knows how to read too.
Jean tries four more places and they all don't accept him until he gets to the bishop's house. Then, throughout the rest of the book, he has to hide who he is because Javert, follows him so he can arrest an innocent man. Once Javert dies, Jean Valjean goes back to being a poor person who everyone makes fun of, yet again.
Change and Transformation
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Everybody changes somehow in the novel. Whether it's a poor person becoming rich, a rich person becoming poor, a good person going evil, a bad person becoming good, etc. But, the main character who has done most of the changing and transforming, is Jean Valjean. He starts off as Jean Valjean when he is first presented in the novel, then soon enough he turns into prisoner 24601. After he meets the bishop he becomes Father Madeline because now he is no longer an evil criminal. Now he is a good man. This good man becomes a mayor, a father and plenty more all in the midst of one novel. He ends the novel back as Jean Valjean.
His name changes a lot, and his character however only changes once. This is when he becomes a religious, good man. He never goes back to his evil stealing ways ever again. Jean does steal the candlesticks from the bishop though, but the bishop's response is, "Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man" (Hugo 33). And ever since those words were said, Jean Valjean has been an honest, forgiving, savior to everyone he meets.
His name changes a lot, and his character however only changes once. This is when he becomes a religious, good man. He never goes back to his evil stealing ways ever again. Jean does steal the candlesticks from the bishop though, but the bishop's response is, "Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man" (Hugo 33). And ever since those words were said, Jean Valjean has been an honest, forgiving, savior to everyone he meets.
Self-Sacrifice
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Throughout Les Misérables, there are all kinds of self-sacrifice. The first time self-sacrifice showed up, was when Fantine gave Cosette to the Thénardiers. This is a very big sacrifice because her daughter means everything to her. She means so much, that Fantine would actually give her away so she can live a better life.
Skip ahead a little bit in the novel, and Eponine sacrifices herself brutally for Marius, "At the moment the soldier aimed at Marius, a hand was laid upon the muzzle of the musket, and stopped it. It was somebody who had sprung forward, the young working-man with velvet pantaloons. The shot went off, passed through the hand, and perhaps also the working-man, for he fell. But the ball did not reach Marius. Marius, who was entering the basement room, hardly noticed it" (Hugo 284). This quote shows how much Eponine loved Marius, to sacrifice herself for him. She was killed horribly, just for her lover. This is true self-sacrifice here.
Skip ahead a little bit in the novel, and Eponine sacrifices herself brutally for Marius, "At the moment the soldier aimed at Marius, a hand was laid upon the muzzle of the musket, and stopped it. It was somebody who had sprung forward, the young working-man with velvet pantaloons. The shot went off, passed through the hand, and perhaps also the working-man, for he fell. But the ball did not reach Marius. Marius, who was entering the basement room, hardly noticed it" (Hugo 284). This quote shows how much Eponine loved Marius, to sacrifice herself for him. She was killed horribly, just for her lover. This is true self-sacrifice here.
Light and Dark/Shadows
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Les Misérables references light and dark plenty of times. Whenever light is brought up, it represents a sort of protection, or safe place. When Jean Valjean was first a criminal, he stole from the bishop, and there was the moonlight laying upon the bishop. It was a way of saying that God was watching over him and protecting him from getting hurt by Jean Valjean, who was stealing the silver candlesticks at the time. The light always appears when someone is getting protected, "For nearly a half hour a great cloud had darkened the sky. At the moment when Jean Valjean paused before the bed the cloud broke as if purposely, and a ray of moonlight crossing the high window, suddenly lighted up the bishop's pale face" (Hugo 29). This is like God is protecting the bishop while he sleeps just with a ray of moonlight.
When darkness comes around, it represents evil. It can also mean somebody is doing something bad, or something bad is happening. When Jean Valjean stole from the bishop, he was in the shadows. He was in the shadows all night, until the bishop had a ray of moonlight upon his face during the theft. The darkness can't always represent something bad though. When Jean Valjean was escaping with Cosette, he was in the shadows which were hiding him from Javert and his soldiers. "When he reached the flattened corner where he left Cosette, he noticed that there no one could see him. He escaped as we have just explained, all observation from every side. Besides, he was in the shade" (Hugo 133). This quote shows that in the shade, at that time, Jean Valjean and Cosette were safe. This is one of those times when light wouldn't really be something to help them.
When darkness comes around, it represents evil. It can also mean somebody is doing something bad, or something bad is happening. When Jean Valjean stole from the bishop, he was in the shadows. He was in the shadows all night, until the bishop had a ray of moonlight upon his face during the theft. The darkness can't always represent something bad though. When Jean Valjean was escaping with Cosette, he was in the shadows which were hiding him from Javert and his soldiers. "When he reached the flattened corner where he left Cosette, he noticed that there no one could see him. He escaped as we have just explained, all observation from every side. Besides, he was in the shade" (Hugo 133). This quote shows that in the shade, at that time, Jean Valjean and Cosette were safe. This is one of those times when light wouldn't really be something to help them.
Gardens
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The gardens are seen a bunch of times during Les Misérables. It's known to Jean Valjean as the safe place to go, or even a hiding spot. He also used the window to the garden to escape from the bishop's house when he stole the candlesticks.
When he is with Cosette during the hide from Javert, they go to a garden and ultimately find Fauchelevent. When he first saw the garden it seemed like a good place to hide, "The wall above which he saw the lime and the ivy, evidently surrounded a garden, where he could at least conceal himself, although there were no leaves on the trees yet, and pass the rest of the night" (Hugo 133). This garden means that he can not only save himself, but also his darling Cosette. It is also very obvious that this is a safe place, because as Cosette shivers, Fauchelevent comes and offers them a place to stay because it is his garden. It seems as if being in the garden just leads him to good things and a safe place.
When he is with Cosette during the hide from Javert, they go to a garden and ultimately find Fauchelevent. When he first saw the garden it seemed like a good place to hide, "The wall above which he saw the lime and the ivy, evidently surrounded a garden, where he could at least conceal himself, although there were no leaves on the trees yet, and pass the rest of the night" (Hugo 133). This garden means that he can not only save himself, but also his darling Cosette. It is also very obvious that this is a safe place, because as Cosette shivers, Fauchelevent comes and offers them a place to stay because it is his garden. It seems as if being in the garden just leads him to good things and a safe place.