Les Mis 2: Javert

Another character who has always interested me is Javert. Upon meeting this determined officer of the law, we learn several things about him. Javert was born in a prison (his mother a fortuneteller and his father a criminal), and he felt that he was forever doomed to remain on the fringes of society. At the same time, Javert was making an observation: "society closes its doors, without pity, on two classes of men: those who attack it and those who guard it; he could choose between these two classes only" (Hugo 54). As anyone who has seen the musical or read the book knows, he very firmly places himself on the side of the law. He goes to great lengths to remain there, despite the de facto exile from society.

Javert's character is defined by his strongest views - he respects and admires authority, and hates rebellion. This love of authority is what leads to his determination to abide by and enforce the law, no matter what the situation may be. His hatred of rebellion is what leads to him becoming an officer in the first place. Javert considers "theft, murder, all crimes" (Hugo 55) to be forms of rebellion. His hatred of rebellion, then, is naturally a large part of why he is so determined to stop the revolution that the Friends of the ABC begin. If all crimes are forms of rebellion, then to Javert an actual rebellion must be the most criminal act of all.

In any other story, Javert likely would have been a character the reader can say is a "good guy," albeit an unlikeable one. His determination to do right by the law would be something to admire. However, most of the likeable characters in Les Miserables are not the good, law abiding citizens who would think of Javert as being on their side. Jean Valjean is an escaped convict. Fantine is forced to turn to prostitution to support her daughter. The Friends of the ABC are staging a rebellion. Since all of these sympathetic characters clash with Javert and his black and white view of the world, it is only natural that we as readers find him a bit distasteful. Do you think that Javert could have been a "good guy," or is he too strict for even a law abiding citizen?

Les Mis 1: The Bishop

From the first time I saw Les Miserables (the musical, that is), the character of the bishop has been one of my favorites. His simple lifestyle and the enormous impact he has on the life of Jean Valjean both endeared him to me, and his characterization in the book did not disappoint. If anything, I love him even more. The simplicity with which he strives to live is something I admire, and his benevolence is inspiring. I absolutely adore the description of his loves - "At his feet something to cultivate and gather, above his head something to study and meditate upon; a few flowers on the earth, and all the stars in the sky." This gentle man spends his leisure time gardening and contemplating God's work.

The love of nature and his devotion to his religion certainly draw me to the bishop's character. While I am not much of a gardener, I love nature. The night sky in particular has always fascinated me. One of my favorite things to do during the summer is to lie down and look at the sky. The simple act of just watching is incredibly meditative to me. Whether I need time to think or just an opportunity to clear my mind, the night sky is always there. While I imagine that the bishop and I are contemplating slightly different things, the connection is still there.

In my opinion, the bishop is one of the story's most important characters. While he is not physically present for the majority of the story, he has an undeniable impact on Jean Valjean's life. Without the key moment in which the bishop saves Valjean from the police, there would be no story. Valjean would go back to prison and remain the hateful man that he was before the bishop bought his soul for God. While it was certainly up to Valjean to become an honest man after his encounter, who knows if he would have had the chance without the bishop?