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?
This is the only book from your original list that I have yet to read. Your post, and the quotation that inspired it, have convinced me of the need to rectify that. Thanks.
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Sweet! I was pretty unsure about reading it because everyone says it's a bear, but I've actually really enjoyed it so far.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the things that make adaptations so difficult; you lose the nuances of the secondary characters. The bishop's goodness and impact on Jean Valjean are implied in the movie, but it is quickly forgotten, almost like a plot device. It got Jean Valjean where he needed to be in order to move the story forward. But in the book, the bishop is a rich, symbolic character. I'm so glad you are enjoying the book.
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