Les Misérables

Information
- French historical novel by Victor Hugo, 1862
- One of the greatest novels in the 19th century

- Beginning in 1815 and cultivating in 1832 June

Rebellion in Paris, the novel follows the stuggles
of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his experience of
redemption
 The Wretched The Miserable Ones

The Miserables The Poor Ones

Les Misérables

The Dispossessed The Wretched Poor

The Victims
Characters
Jean Valjean (also known as Monsieur Madeleine, Ultime Fauchelevent,
Monsieur Leblanc, and Urbain Fabre) – The protagonist of the novel.
Convicted for stealing bread to feed his sister's seven children and sent
to prison for 5 years, he is paroled from prison nineteen years later.
Rejected by society for being a former convict, he encounters Bishop
Myriel, who turns his life around by showing him mercy and
encouraging him to become a new man.
Bishop Myriel – The Bishop of Digne (full name Charles-François-
Bienvenu Myriel, also called Monseigneur Bienrvenu) – a much-admired
clergyman who has great kindness and charity. He passes on these
same qualities to Valjean and begins the ex-convict’s spiritual renewal
by saving Valjean from arrest and making him promise to live as an
honest man.
 Characters
Magloire, Madame – Domestic servant to Bishop Myriel and his sister.
Baptistine Myriel – Bishop Myriel's sister. She loves and venerates her brother.
Petit Gervais – A travelling Sayovard boy who drops a coin. Valjean, still a man of
criminal mind, places his foot on the coin and refuses to return it.
Fauchelevent – is saved by Valjean (as M. Madeleine) from being crushed under a
carriage.
Javert – A fanatic police inspector in chasing to arrest Valjean; joins the police force
in the small town identified only as M____-sur-M__.
Fantine – abandoned with her child by her lover Félix Tholomyès; leaves her
daughter Cosette at the Thénardiers.
Characters
Félix Tholomyès – Fantine's lover and Cosette's biological father. A
wealthy, self-centered student in Paris originally from Toulouse, he
eventually abandons Fantine when their daughter is two years old.
Cosette – The illegitimate daughter of Fantine and Tholomyès. From
approximately the age of three to the age of eight, she is beaten and
forced to work as a drudge for the Thénardiers.
Monsieur Thénardier and Madame Thénardier – Husband and wife,
parents of five children: two daughters, Éponine and Azelma, and three
sons, Gavroche and two unnamed younger sons. As innkeepers, they
abuse Cosette as a child and extort payment from Fantine for her
support, until Valjean takes Cosette away.
Plot
Volume I - Fantine
It begins in 1815 in Digne, as Jean Valjean, just released from 19 years’* imprisonment in the Bagne
of Toulon, is turned away by innkeepers because he is a former convict. He sleeps on the street,
angry and bitter.

Digne’s kind Bishop Myriel gives Jean Valjean shelter. At night, Valjean steals Myriel’s silverware and
runs off. When the police capture him, Myriel pretends that he has given the silverware to Valjean
and forces him to take the two silver candlesticks as well. The police accept his explanation and
leave. Myriel tells Valjean that his life has been spared for God, and that he should use money from
the silverware to be an honest man.

Valjean thinks gloomily over Myriel’s words. When opportunity presents itself, purely out of habit, he
steals a 40-sous* coin from 12-year-old Petit Gervais and chases the boy away. He quickly regrets
and searches the city in panic for Gervais. At the same time, he is reported to the authorities. Valjean
hides as they search for him, because if arrested he will be retuned to the galleys* for life as a repeat
offender*.
Six years pass and Valjean, using the allas Monsieur Madeleine, has become a rich factory owner and
is assigned mayor of a town identified only as M___-sur-M__. Walking down the street, he sees a
man named Fauchelevent pinned under the wheels of a csrt. When no one helps to lift the cart, he
decides to rescue Fauchelevent himself. He crawls underneath the cart, manages to lift it, and frees
him. The town’s police inspector, Inspector Javert, who was an adjutant* guard at the Bagne of
Toulon during Valjean’s imprisonment, becomes suspicious of the mayor after eitnessing the
extraordinary skill of strength. He knows only one man, a convict named Jean Valjean, who could
only do it.

Years earlier in Paris, a grisette* named Fantine was in love with Félix Tholomyès. He abandoned
her. Fantine must go on her own to raise Tholomyès’ child, Cosette. When Fantine goes to
Montfermeil, she leaves Cosette in the care of the Thénardiers, a corrupt innkeeper and his selfish,
cruel wife.

Fantine does not know that they are abusing Cosette and using her as forced labor for their in.
Fantine is fired from her job at Jean Valjean’s factory, because of her daughter, who was born out of
wedlock*.
Meanwhile, the Thénardiers’ financial demands continue to grow. In desperation, Fantine sells her hair
and two front teeth, and she turns to prostitution to pay the Thénardiers. Fantine is slowly dying from
an unspecified disease.

A dandy* named Bamatabois harasses Fantine in the street and she reacts by striking him. Javert
arrests Fantine. She begs to be released so that she can provide for her daughter, but Javert
sentences her to six months in prison. Valjean (Mayor Madeleine) intervenes and orders Javert to
release her. Javert resists but Valjean wins out. Valjean, feeling responsible because his factory turned
her away, promises Fantine that he will bring Cosette to her. He takes her to a hospital.

Javert comes to see Valjean again. Javert admits that after being forced to free Fantine, he reported
him as Valjean to the French authorities. He tells Valjean he realizes he was wrong, because the
authorities identified someone else as the real Jean Valjean, have him in charge and plan to try him
the next day. Valjean is torn, but decides to reveal himself to save the innocent man, whose real
name is Champmathieu. He travels to attend the trial and there he reveals his true identity. Valjean
returns to M___-sur-M__ to see Fantine, followed byJavert, who confronts him in her hospital room.
After Javert grabs Valjean, Valjean asks
for three days to bring Cosette to
Fantine, but Javert refuses. Fantine
discovers that Cosette is not at the
hospital and worrily asks where she is.
Javert orders her to be quiet, and then
reveals to her Valjean’s real identity.
Weakened by the graveness of her
illness, she falls back in shock and dies.
Valjean goes to Fantine, speaks to her
in an inaudible whisper, kisses her
hand, and then leaves with Javert.
Later, Fantine’s body is
unceremoniously thrown into a public
grave.
Plot
Volume II - Cosette
Valjean escapes, is recaptured, and is sentenced to death. Valjean, at a great risk, rescues a sailor
caught in the ship’s rigging. Valjean fakes his own death by falling into the ocean. Authorities report
him dead and his body lost.

Valjean arrives at Montfermeil on Christmas Eve. He finds Cosette and walks with her to the inn.
Valjean observes how the Thénardiers abuse her. Valjean leaves and returns to make Cosette a
present of an expensive new doll.

The next morning, Valjean tells the Thénardiers that he wants to take Cosette with him. The
Thenardiers accept and pretends to love Cosette. Valjean pays them 1,500 francs, and they leave the
inn.

Valjean and Cosette flee to Paris. They live in a new lodging at Gorbeau House. However, Javert
discovers that Valjean lives there, then they escape from Javert. They find shelter in the Petit Picpus
convent with the help of Fauchelevent. Valjean becomes a gardener and Cosette becomes a student
at the convent school.
Characters
Enjolras – leader of Les Amis de l’ABC (Friends of the Abc) in the paris
uprising
Gavroche – The unloved middle child and eldest son of the
Thénardiers. He lives on his own as a street child
Marius Pontmercy – a law student associated with the Friends of the
ABC. He shares the political principles of his father and has a
tempestuous relationship with his grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand
Patron-Minette – A quartet of bandits who assist in the Thenardiers’
ambush of Valjean at Gorbeau House and the attempted robbery at the
Rue Plumet (Volume V)
Éponine – the Thenardier’s eldest daughter. She is blindly in love with
Marius
Plot
Volume III - Marius
8 years later, the Friends of the ABC, led by Enjolras, are preparing an act of anti-Orléanist civil
unrest. The poor of the Cour des miracles, including Gavroche, join the Friends of the ABC.

Marius Pontmercy has become alienated from his family because of his liberal views. After the death
of his father Colonel Georges Pontmercy, Marius discovers a note from him telling his son to help a
sergeant named Thénardier who saved Pontmercy’s life at Waterloo but in reality, Thénardier
waslooting corpses and only saved Pontmercy’s life by accident; he called himself a sergeant under
Napoleon to avoid exposing himself as a robber.

Marius falls in love with Cosette. The Thénardiers moved to Paris and now live in poverty after losing
their inn. They live at Gorbeau House where Valjean and Cosette coincidentally live. Marius lives there
as well, next door to the Thénardiers.

Éponine visits Marius to beg for money. To impress him, she tries to read aloud from a book. Marius
pities her and gives her money. Éponine comes in their apartment and announces that a
philanthropist and his daughter are going to visit them.
The philanthropist and his daughter enter – actually Valjean and Cosette. Valjean promises the
Thénardiers that he will return with rent money for them. After they leave, Éponine retrieves
Cosette’s address to Marius. The Thénardiers have recognized Valjean and Cosette, and they enlist
the help of Patron-Minette.

Marius overhears their plan and reports it to Javert. Javert gives Marius two pistols. Marius waited
for thr police to arrive. When Valjean returns, Patron-Minette ambushes him. Monsieur Thénardier
reveals his real identity to Valjean, and Marius recognizes him as the man who “saved” Colonel
Pontmercy’s life at Waterloo.

Valjean tries to escape through a window but is subdued and tied up. Thénardier orders Valjean to
pay him 200,000 francs and to write a letter to Cosette to return to the apartment. Madame
Thénardier gets Cosette but she comes back alone, and said that the address is fake.

Valjean tries to escape. Thénardier decides to kill Valjean. Marius throws the scrap of paper with
Cosette’s address into the Thénardier’s apartment through the wall crack.

Javert stops and arrests the Thénardiers and Patron-Minette. Valjean escapes before Javert sees
him.
Character

Brujon – he participates in crimes with M. Thenardier and the Patron-

Minette
 Plot
Volume IV – The Idyll in the Rue Plumet and the Epic in the Rue St. Denis
After Éponine’s release from prison, she finds Marius at “The Field of the Lark” and sadly tells him
that she found Cosette’s address. She leads him to Valjean’s and Cosette’s house on Rue Plumet.
Marius and Cosette meet and declare their love for one another. Thénardier, Patron Minette, and
Brujon escapes from prison with the help of Gavroche. Six men attempt to raid Valjean’s house.
However, Éponine, who has been sitting by the gates of the house, threatens to scream and awaken
the neighbourhood if the thieves do not leave. Meanwhile, Cosette informs Marius that she and
Valjean will go to England, which troubles the couple.

A note that says “Move Out” lands on Valjean’s lap, while he is sitting in the Champ de Mars. He tells
Cosette they will be staying at Rue de l’Homme Arme, and reconfirms to her that they will be moving
to England. Marius asks permission from M. Gillenormand to marry Cosette. His gandfather seems
angry, but has been waiting for Marius’s return. He refuses his approval to the marriage, telling
Marius to make Cosette his mistress instead.

The students revolt and erect barricades in the streets of Paris. Gavroche spots Javert and informs
Enjolras that Javert is a spy. Marius goes back to Valjean’s house at Rue Plumet but no one is there.
Marius’s friends are waiting for him at the barricade so he goes, distraught to find Cosette gone.
The “revolution” has started. A soldier will shoot Marius but a man covers the muzzle of the gun
with his hand. The soldier fires, wounding the man, while missing Marius. Marius threatens to the
soldiers that he will blow up the barricade. The soldiers pull back from the barricade.

The man who took the fatal shot for Marius earlier calls Marius by his name. The man is actually
Éponine, dressed in men’s clothes. Éponine tells Marius that she has a letter for him. Éponine asks
him to kiss her on the forehead when she is dead, which he promises to do. She confesses that was
“a little bit in love” with him, and dies.

Marius reads the letter, wrriten by Cosette. He writes a farewell letter to her. He sends Gavroche to
deliver it to her, but Gavroche leaves it with Valjean. Valjean, learning that Cosette’s lover is
fighting, is at first relieved, but an hour later, he readies himself for the revolution and leaves his
home.
Plot
Volume V – Jean Valjean
Valjean arrives and is still not certain if he wants to protect or kill Marius. Enjolras said that they are
almost out of cartridges. When Gavroche collects more ammunition from a dead National Guardsman,
he is shot by the troops.

Valjean volunteers to execute Javert, and Enjolras grants permission. Valjean takes Javert, and then
shoots into the air while letting him go. As the barricade falls, Valjean carries off the injured and
unconscious Marius. Valjean escapes through the sewers, carrying Marius’s body. Valjean reached an
exit gate. Thenardier emerges from the darkness, and does not recognize Valjean. Thinking Valjean a
murderer lugging his victim’s corpse, Thénardier offers to open the gate for money. As he searches
Valjean and Marius’s pockets, he secretively tears off a piece of Marius’s coat so he can later find out
his identity. He takes thirty francs, and opens the gate.

Upon exiting, Valjean encounters Javert. Javert agrees on Valjean’s request, which is to return Marius
to his family before surrending to him. After leaving Marius at his grandfather’s house, Valjean asks to
visit his own home, and Javert agrees. Javert tells Valjean that he will wait for him, but when Valjean
looks out the window, Javert is no longer there.
Javert realizes that he is caught between his strict belief in the law and the mercy Valjean has shown
him. He feels he can no longer arrest Valjean but also can not ignore his duty to the law. Unable to
cope with this dillema, Javert commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine.

Marius slowly recovers from his injuries. As he and Cosette prepare for their wedding, Valjean gives
them nearly 600,000 francs. As their wedding party occurs in Paris, Thénardier spotted Valjean. He
orders Azelma to follow Valjean. After the wedding, Valjean confesses to Marius that he is an ex-
convict. Marius is horrified, and takes Cosette away from Valjean. Valjean loses the will to live and
retires to his bed.

Thenardier, in diguise, corrects Marius’s misconceptions about Valjean and reveals all of the good he
has done. He presents the piece of coat he tore off, and Marius recognizes that it is part of his own
coat and realizes Valhean saved his life. He then confronts Thenardier with his crimes and offers him
big amount of money to depart and never return. Thenardier accepts, and he and Azelme travel to
America where he becomes a slave trader.

As they rush to Valjean’s house, Marius tells Cosette that Valjean saved his life at the barricade.
They arrive to find Valjean near death and are reconciled with him. Valjean tells Cosette her mother’s
story and name. He dies content and is buried beneath a blank slab Pére Lachaise Cemetery.