essay questions for les miserables

Les Miserables

By victor hugo, les miserables essay questions.

The first sixty pages of Les Misérables is dedicated to describing the personality, actions, sayings, and values of Bishop Myriel, a character who does not appear in any other part of the book. Why do you think the author chose to do this?

Though Bishop Myriel does not appear in any other part of this book, he is a model for moral behavior. A major theme of Les Misérables is the moral journey of the soul from selfishness and darkness to compassion and light. Bishop Myriel's life story offers an example of this journey, which is detailed in the first sixty pages of the book: he was born wealthy and powerful, but lost everything he had after the French Revolution, and became devoted to helping the poor. Though the biography of Bishop Myriel is long, it is not dull and it is not filler material. Many of the episodes described (Myriel's interaction with the bandits of rural France, his compassion towards a condemned criminal, and so on) offer engaging examples of how to live a good life in a less-than-perfect world.

Much of the book is dedicated to describing the plight of the poor in 19th century France. Victor Hugo distinguishes between a few different types of impoverished people. Identify a few of these different types, then compare and contrast them.

There are at least three different types of impoverished people in Les Misérables : the pitiful poor, the purified poor, and the wicked poor. The pitiful poor are those who are so beaten down by unjust and undeserved poverty that they cannot even defend themselves from cruelty of suffering; poverty has stripped everything away from them. Monsieur Mabeuf and Fantine are two examples of this type of poor. Another type is the purified poor. For this type, poverty has resulted in an improvement on the character, removing all excess and deepening their compassion for their fellow humanity. Marius and Gavroche are two examples of this type. The third, the wicked poor, are pushed into depravity and cruelty to other human beings; they reason that because no compassion was shown to them, they have no reason to have compassion towards others. Thénardier is an example of the wicked poor. Each of these types has a moral lesson: the pitiful poor inspire our compassion; the purified poor invite our imitation; and the wicked poor demand sanctions. In each case, Hugo endeavors so inspire a sense of action.

Many impoverished characters in Les Misérables suffer in different ways. How does the gender of each character influence the difficulties they must overcome?

Because she is poor and a woman, Fantine is eventually forced to resort to prostitution, which Hugo describes as one of the greatest of all forms of suffering. In her situation, a man might have been able to sell his labor, but her only option is to sell her sexuality. Fantine's death is directly influenced by her work in prostitution. On the other hand, Jean Valjean endures the difficulties of masculinity. He is originally sentenced to prison for stealing a loaf of bread - this is the only way he can be a provider to his sister's children.

What is Hugo's perspective on justice? How is it similar to and different from the legal definition of justice? Are there characters that embody these differing ideas of what justice means?

Hugo emphasizes a justice that is dependent on mercy. His protagonist is an ex-convict who goes on to commit identity fraud after his imprisonment ends. Another novelist with a different idea of justice might have made a villain out of Jean Valjean, but for Hugo, Valjean's journey toward compassion and righteousness is a hero's journey. Valjean does have respect for laws, but he also sees how they fail - particularly among the poor. Javert embodies a different idea of justice. Javert is rigid in his adherence to the law, and when he is confronted with a situation that cannot be neatly resolved within the existing justice system, he kills himself.

Les Misérables is well known for its large cast of characters. Who is your favorite character, and why? How does Hugo develop this character's personality in the narrative?

Enjolras is my favorite character. When he is introduced along with the rest of the ABC Society, he is described as the leader, but the reasons for this are not fully clear until the last stand on the barricade. Enjolras is simultaneously a compassionate idealist and fierce zealot, and these qualities are vividly illustrated in the way that he treats one of his men who murders an innocent civilian. With a grand speech explaining that the revolution must bring in a world of new and fairer values, he executes this man. But Enjolras does not rejoice in death. At another point, he shoots an officer in the French army and weeps that he must kill his brother. Enjolras' reactions to these complicated situations reveal a complex character.

Though Les Misérables is strongly informed by its historical context, it also contains timeless themes. What is one incident, character, or idea that remains particularly pertinent today?

One idea that remains relevant today is that of the good man who becomes a victim of an unjust legal system. Especially in light of high levels of incarceration and police violence, it is not always clear that every judicial decision is actually just, or that the justice system actually creates justice. In some cases, poor people seem to be penalized unfairly. In the book, Jean Valjean was originally imprisoned for stealing a tiny bit of food to feed his sister's children, and he faced enormous barriers to rejoining society after his release. We can imagine Jean Valjeans in our own society, and ask what happens to prisoners after they are released, and what forces push them into recidivism (i.e. committing more crimes).

Do you think Javert is justified in going to such lengths to pursue Jean Valjean? Why or why not?

I think he is justified in pursuing Valjean. The reader knows what a moral and righteous character Valjean is, but Javert does not have the same perspective; all he knows is that an ex-convict has gained a position of great social power in Montfermeil. Valjean is remarkable for his incredible strength and his high intelligence, two characteristics that would make a particularly dangerous criminal, if Valjean decided to pursue that life.

Les Misérables contains many cases of people discovering someone's hidden identity. Describe one such episode, and explain its significance in the narrative.

One revelation of hidden identity comes when Javert discerns Valjean's true identity when he saves Fauchelevent from the overturned carriage. Valjean is posing as Monsieur Madeleine at the time, but Javert still suspects that he is the vanished ex-convict. Valjean's choice to save Fauchelevent through the use of his incredible (and very easily recognizable) physical strength despite the fact that it will allow Javert to identify him more easily is a mark of Valjean's moral progress: he is willing to sacrifice himself to save others. In this instance of sudden recognition, it is a particular quality that reveals the hidden person; in other places in the novel, there is less explanation about how and why people are recognized.

Why do you think Hugo chose to write about the unsuccessful uprising of 1832 rather than other, more successful insurrections? Successful insurrections could include the uprising that removed the Bourbon kings from power or the French Revolution itself. What themes in the narrative does this focus support?

I think Hugo focused on this uprising to emphasize its courageous yet tragic nature. The men on the barricade knew that they were going to die, and in the end they knew that little political change would come out of it. In this way, Hugo can use the event as a way to highlight the struggles of the poor and their dreams for the future. The revolution remains unfinished and full of promise, rather than a difficult or dreary reality. Hugo likes to focus on the small events in history; though he makes mention of Waterloo and the Restoration, he spends much of his time focusing on the lives on individual characters. The uprising of 1832 was a similarly small event; it had enormous impact in the lives of individuals but relatively little impact on history, though it did lay the groundwork for the later uprising that removed Louis-Philippe from power.

Éponine is perhaps one of the most memorable characters in the novel. Do you think her actions are primarily selfish or selfless?

I think her actions are selfish - but they are still admirable. It was very selfish of her to put off sending Marius' final letter to Cosette, and to entice Marius to a death on the barricades. She seized this chance to have Marius all to herself and to push him away from Cosette; this is the very definition of selfish. However, in the end she rejected these actions and sacrificed her life to save Marius. But this may also be selfish - she was so in love with Marius that she did not want to live in a world without him, and she may have been thinking more about herself than him when she put her hand in front of the gun. Despite her selfish actions, Éponine remains one of the most complex and likable characters in the book.

Les Miserables Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Les Miserables is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

what is the message of redemption conveyed in the extract?

Love can redeem even the worst characters in Les Misérables . It was the brotherly love shown by Bishop Myriel that pulled Jean Valjean out of his misanthropy following his release from prison, and it was Cosette's love that further encouraged him...

The cops explain that their neighborhood was plagued with petty crime and drugs. Who helped cleaned the neighborhood a little bit?

I don't recall this in the book and have not seen the movie. Do you mean the musical?

What did the Bishop mean when he said that Jean Valjean no longer belonged to evil and that he bought his soul from him?

In context, by allowing him to take the silver, the Bishop is pointing Valjean is the direction of redemption. He isn't merely allowing Valjean to take the silver, but rather his gift restores Valjean's sense of worth and provides him with a new...

Study Guide for Les Miserables

Les Miserables study guide contains a biography of Victor Hugo, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Les Miserables
• Les Miserables Summary
• Character List

Essays for Les Miserables

Les Miserables essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo.

• Jean Valjean: An Angel in Hell
• Javert: The Righteous Villain
• Romanticism in Les Miserables
• Depictions of Social Climbing in 19th Century French and English Literature
• Love Conquers All: The Central Theme of Les Miserables

Lesson Plan for Les Miserables

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Les Miserables
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Les Miserables Bibliography

E-Text of Les Miserables

Les Miserables E-Text contains the full text of Les Miserables

• VOLUME I, BOOK FIRST--A JUST MAN
• VOLUME I, BOOK SECOND--THE FALL
• VOLUME I, BOOK THIRD--IN THE YEAR 1817
• VOLUME I, BOOK FOURTH--TO CONFIDE IS SOMETIMES TO DELIVER INTO A PERSON'S
• VOLUME I, BOOK FIFTH--THE DESCENT

Wikipedia Entries for Les Miserables

• Introduction
• Hugo's sources

• Les Miserables

Victor Hugo

• Literature Notes
• Essay Questions
• Book Summary
• About Les Misérables
• Character List
• Summary and Analysis
• Part 1: Fantine: Book I
• Part 1: Fantine: Book II
• Part 1: Fantine: Book III
• Part 1: Fantine: Book IV
• Part 1: Fantine: Book V, Chapters 1-7
• Part 1: Fantine: Book V, Chapters 8-13
• Part 1: Fantine: Books VI-VIII
• Part 2: Cosette: Book I
• Part 2: Cosette: Book II
• Part 2: Cosette: Book III
• Part 2: Cosette: Book IV-Book V, Chapters 1-5
• Part 2: Cosette: Book V, Chapters 6-10
• Part 2: Cosette: Books VI-VII
• Part 2: Cosette: Book VIII
• Part 3: Marius: Book I
• Part 3: Marius: Books II-III
• Part 3: Marius: Book IV
• Part 3: Marius: Books V-VI
• Part 3: Marius: Book VII
• Part 3: Marius: Book VIII
• Part 4: St. Denis: Book I
• Part 4: St. Denis: Books II-III
• Part 4: St. Denis: Books IV-V
• Part 4: St. Denis: Book VI
• Part 4: St. Denis: Book VII
• Part 4: St. Denis: Books VIII-IX
• Part 4: St. Denis: Book X
• Part 4: St. Denis: Books XI-XV
• Part 5: Jean Valjean: Book I, Chapters 1-10
• Part 5: Jean Valjean: Book I, Chapters 11-24
• Part 5: Jean Valjean: Book II-Book III, Chapters 1-9
• Part 5: Jean Valjean: Book III, Chapters 10-12, Book IV
• Part 5: Jean Valjean: Books V-VI
• Part 5: Jean Valjean: Books VII-IX
• Victor Hugo Biography
• Cite this Literature Note

Study Help Essay Questions

1. Les Mis é rables is one of the most widely read novels of all time. How do you explain its appeal?

2. Trace Victor Hugo's numerous antitheses.

3. Comment on Hugo's preface: "As long as there shall exist, by virtue of law and custom, a social damnation artificially creating hells in the midst of civilization and complicating divine destiny with a human fatality . . . books like this cannot be useless."

4. "My belief is that this book will be one of my major achievements, if not my major achievement." Do you agree with Victor Hugo's appraisal of his own work?

5. To those who accuse Victor Hugo of implausibility, Baudelaire answers: "It is a novel constructed like a poem, where each character is an exception only by the hyperbolic way he represents a generality." Elaborate.

6. One of Victor Hugo's most poignant and recurrent themes is what François Mauriac calls "the desert of love" — that is, unfulfilled love. Trace Hugo's variations on this theme.

7. One of Hugo's editors, Marius-François Guyard, claims to see a solid framework behind the apparent disorder of Les Misérables. What is your estimate of the novel's structure?

8. To what extent is Javert a symbol and to what extent an individualized characterization?

9. Thénardier is an absolutely evil man. Can such a character be considered realistic? Is he convincing?

10. Diderot defines one form of genius as the tendency to see abstract ideas only through their concrete manifestations. How does Victor Hugo illustrate this definition in Les Misérables ?

11. Discuss Les Misérables as a realistic novel.

12. It has been said that Jean Valjean's dominant emotion is caritas (charity — active, outgoing love for others), but that it is not his only passion. Discuss some other emotions that Jean Valjean experiences in the course of the book and show how they conflict with or reinforce his caritas .

13. What are the principal social evils Victor Hugo is attacking in Les Misérables ?

14. What social reforms does Victor Hugo advocate, directly or indirectly, in Les Misérables ?

15. What is Hugo's view of human nature? Does he believe it is naturally good or vitiated by original sin, or does he take a position somewhere between these two extremes?

16. Marius has been described as a typical young Romantic of his era. Discuss him and compare him with other Romantic heroes in books, plays, or poems of the Romantic period that you may have read.

17. Explain Cosette's function in the novel in regard to character development, plot development, and theme.

18 . What are Hugo's principal weapons as a propagandist? Discuss the effectiveness of each.

19. Gavroche is considered one of the most memorable characters in French literature. Analyze the techniques Hugo has used to make him so.

20. Discuss the Romantic elements in Les Misérables .

Previous Quiz

Next Cite this Literature Note

Les Misérables Questions

Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer..

• How responsible is Jean Valjean for his financial success? How responsible is Bishop Myriel for it? Does it matter?
• Why is Inspector Javert so committed to catching Jean Valjean? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
• How does Javert react when Jean Valjean saves his life? Why? What does it tell us about the theme of justice in this book?
• Do you find Bishop Myriel's kindness believable? Why or why not?
• What main lesson do you take away from Les Misérables ? Is it a convincing one? Why or why not?
• What do you make of the fact that the second half of this book focuses on a failed 1832 revolt? Why didn't Hugo choose a more successful rebellion from history?
• Which character in this book do you have the most sympathy for? Why?
• Which character do you have the least sympathy for? Why?
• Why is this book so long ? Does it need to be, or could Hugo have gotten his point across in, say, 350 words?
• Do you find the ending of this book hopeful, pessimistic, or neither? Why?

Tired of ads?

Cite this source, logging out…, logging out....

You've been inactive for a while, logging you out in a few seconds...

W hy's T his F unny?

Les Miserables

80 pages • 2 hours read

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1, Books 1-4

Part 1, Books 5-8

Part 2, Books 1-4

Part 2, Books 5-8

Part 3, Books 1-4

Part 3, Books 5-8

Part 4, Books 1-7

Part 4, Books 8-15

Part 5, Books 1-4

Part 5, Books 5-9

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Discussion Questions

Summary and Study Guide

Les Misérables (in English, The Wretched or The Miserable Ones ) is a novel by French author Victor Hugo, published for the first time in 1862. The story follows several characters through early- to mid-19th century France as they seek redemption for their sins and an escape from poverty. As well as being praised as one of the greatest novels of its time, Les Misérables has been adapted for many other formats, most notably a very successful musical of the same name. This guide uses an eBook version of the 2015 Penguin Classis edition, translated into English by Christine Donougher.

Plot Summary

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

• 7,400+ In-Depth Study Guides
• 4,900+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
• Downloadable PDFs

Part 1: Fantine

In 1815, a peasant named Jean Valjean is released from the notoriously cruel prison, Bagne of Toulon. He served five years for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister's starving family and another 14 years for a series of escape attempts. Valjean arrives in a town named Digne, but he is turned away from every inn or room because his passport reveals that he is a former convict. Only Myriel, the Bishop of Digne, is willing to allow Valjean into his home. He gives Valjean shelter for the night, but Valjean repays him by stealing silverware from the bishop’s house. The police catch Valjean with the stolen silver, but Myriel saves Valjean by insisting that the silver was a gift. He even hands Valjean a set of matching silver candlesticks. The police free Valjean. Myriel makes Valjean promise that he will sell the candlesticks and use the proceeds to become a better, more honest man in the future. Valjean struggles to give up his criminal past, but he knows that, if he is caught again, he will be sent back to prison for life.

The SuperSummary difference

• 8x more resources than SparkNotes and CliffsNotes combined
• Study Guides you won ' t find anywhere else
• 100+ new titles every month

After several years, Valjean adopts the fake name Madeleine and travels to a town named Montreuil-sur-mer. There, he devises a new manufacturing process for black beads which makes the town rich. Eventually, the people of Montreuil-sur-mer insist that he become their mayor. One day, Valjean saves a man named Fauchelevent who is trapped beneath a cart. His feat of strength rouses the suspicions of a local police inspector named Javert , who was a guard at Bagne of Toulon when Valjean was incarcerated there. Javert has only seen one other man strong enough to accomplish such a feat: the prisoner Jean Valjean.

Many years earlier, a poor young French woman named Fantine falls in love with a man named Tholomyès. Her friends also fall in love with his friends, though the young men quickly abandon the women and dismiss the relationships as youthful distractions. Fantine gives birth to Tholomyès's child. She names the girl Cosette and struggles to raise her alone. Fantine travels to her hometown Montfermeil, where she leave Cosette to be raised by a corrupt, unscrupulous innkeeper named Monsieur Thénardier and his cruel wife, Madame Thénardier. Unknown to Fantine, the Thénardiers abuse Cosette and force her to work in their inn. With Cosette in the care of the Thénardiers, Fantine works in Valjean's factory. When her co-workers discover that she is the mother of a child born out of wedlock, however, they conspire to have her fired.

Meanwhile, the Thénardiers demand more money to look after Cosette. Struggling to make ends meet, Fantine sells her front teeth and her hair. She becomes a sex worker but contracts a deadly, unknown illness. One evening, Javert arrests Fantine after an altercation with a man in the street. Before she can be sent to prison, Valjean intervenes. As mayor, he tells Javert to release Fantine. Valjean feels guilty that his own factory fired Fantine. He takes Fantine to hospital and promises her that he will bring Cosette to her. Javert visits Valjean to offer an apology: He wanted to reveal Valjean's true identity to the world, but the police have now arrested a different man whom they believe to be Valjean, who will be tried the next day. Valjean is torn between confessing his true identity to Javert and allowing an innocent man to be tried on his behalf. Valjean cannot allow an innocent man to suffer, so he goes to the trial and reveals himself as the true Valjean, thereby freeing the falsely accused man, Champmathieu.

Afterward, Valjean visits Fantine in the hospital. There, he is confronted by Javert. Valjean begs for time to allow him to track down Cosette and fulfill his promise to Fantine. Javert refuses. As Fantine asks for the location of her daughter, Javert sternly reveals Valjean’s true identity as a former convict. As Fantine processes this information in shock, she dies. Valjean kneels beside her bed, whispers to her, and then allows Javert to take him away to prison. Fantine is thrown into an unmarked public grave.

Part 2: Cosette

Valjean escapes from prison. He is captured again, and this time he is sentenced to death. His sentence is commuted by the King of France, and instead Valjean is sent back to the Bagne of Toulon for life. Valjean risks his life to save a sailor from certain death, and the crowd calls for him to be released. Instead, Valjean falls into the ocean and fakes his death. He is declared dead by the authorities. Valjean returns to Montfermeil on Christmas Eve. He meets Cosette while she is collecting water and returns with her to the inn. At the inn, he eats a meal while watching how badly the Thénardiers abuse the young girl. In contrast, the Thénardiers own daughters, Eponine and Azelma, are treated very well. After gifting Cosette a doll, Valjean tries to bargain with the Thénardiers to take Cosette away. Eventually, he pays Monsieur Thénardier 1,500 francs and leaves with Cosette. Valjean and Cosette travel to Paris, where they live together happily for a while until they are discovered by Javert. They escape from Javert and seek shelter in a convent. At the convent, Valjean receives help from Fauchelevent, whose life he saved many years before and who now works as a gardener at the convent. Valjean joins Fauchelevent as a gardener, and Cosette enrolls in the school at the convent.

Part 3: Marius

Civil unrest is spreading through many of the working-class communities in France. Revolutionary groups such as the Friends of the ABC plot uprisings against the government. Marius Pontmercy is a member of the Friends of the ABC. He is a young student who lives with his rich, royalist grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand. After learning more about his deceased Bonapartist father, Marius develops a newfound respect for him. Marius's new political views alienate him from his grandfather. He finds a note from his father, asking him to track down a sergeant named Thénardier who saved his life at the Battle of Waterloo. While Georges believed Thénardier to be an altruistic sergeant, he was in fact a craven opportunist who was looting dead bodies. After he accidently saved Georges's life, he claimed to be a sergeant to avoid punishment. Marius rebels against his royalist grandfather by moving out of the house. He attends law school and becomes more involved in radical politics. He respects Enjolras, the charismatic leader of the Friends of the ABC.

Marius walks in a park every day. There, he occasionally sees Cosette and falls in love with her. However, Valjean disapproves of the relationship and tries his utmost to prevent the two youngsters from ever meeting face-to-face. At this time, Marius lives next to a family named the Jondrettes. The Jondrettes are actually the Thénardiers, who have lost everything—including their inn—and moved to Paris. Marius takes pity on the impoverished Eponine and gives her money. He watches the family next door through a crack in the wall. When the family is visited by a philanthropist and his daughter, Marius recognizes the new arrivals as Valjean and Cosette. Valjean promises that he will help the family pay rent. Valjean does not recognize the Thénardiers, but they recognize him, and they plan to rob him. Monsieur Thénardier enlists a gang of murderous robbers known as the Patron-Minette to help him. Marius asks Eponine for the address where Valjean and Cosette live, not knowing that Eponine is in love with him.

Marius overhears the Thénardiers' plans and goes to Javert, who gives him two pistols. Javert tells Marius to fire one gun in the air if the situation becomes dangerous. In the meantime, Javert will gather his forces and raid the Thénardiers' house. While Marius watches, Valjean returns to the house with rent for the Thénardiers. He is ambushed by Monsieur Thénardier and the gang. Thénardier reveals his identity to Valjean, placing Marius in a difficult position: He still believes that Thénardier saved his father's life, so he does not want to surrender him to Javert, but he also wants to save Valjean. Thénardier demands money. Valjean denies his identity. Monsieur Thénardier sends his wife to collect Cosette, but she returns empty-handed, claiming that the address given to her by Valjean is fake. Valjean nearly escapes, and Thénardier decides to kill him. Marius intervenes, slipping a scrap of paper with Eponine's handwriting through the crack in the wall. Thénardier is confused. When he and the gang try to leave, however, they are arrested by Javert. Some members of the gang and the Thénardier family escape, as does Valjean.

Part 4: The Rue Plumet Idyll and the Rue St-Denis Epic

Eponine tracks down Marius. Even though she is in love with Marius, she shares Cosette's address with him. Marius spends several days watching the house on Rue Plumet. When he is finally able to meet Cosette, they fall in love, and he visits her each night. Meanwhile, Thénardier and the Patron-Minette gang escape from prison with the help of the Thénardiers' street urchin son, Gavroche. They try to burgle Valjean's house but find Eponine outside, pining for Marius. She threatens to alert the authorities unless they leave. They reluctantly abandon their plans. Cosette reveals to Marius that she and Valjean plan to move to England. Valjean, having discovered his adoptive daughter's relationship with Marius, worries for her. His move to England is an attempt to thwart the young lovers. His mind is made up when he notices Thénardier lurking in the neighborhood and then receives a threatening note. The desperate Marius begs his grandfather's permission to marry Cosette, but after an argument his grandfather refuses to grant permission. Marius tries to find Cosette, but Valjean has already moved them to a new temporary address ahead of their departure for England.

The following day, the students begin their political revolt against the government. Marius, unsure what to do, joins his radical friends. He reaches the barricades across the streets, armed with the two pistols given to him by Javert. The student revolution is in full swing when soldiers suddenly attack. A soldier tries to shoot Marius, but a man throws himself in the way, saving Marius's life. Marius grabs a keg of explosive powder and climbs to the top of the barricade . He loudly threatens to blow everyone up unless the soldiers retreat. The soldiers retreat, allowing Marius to climb down. Behind the barricade, the revolutionaries find Javert and recognize him as a policeman. They accuse him of being a spy and tie him up.

Marius spots the man who saved his life, dying on the street. Marius realizes that the man is Eponine in disguise. With her dying words, she says that she hoped that she would be able to die alongside him on the barricade. The narrator also reveals that Eponine is the author of the threatening notes which prompted Valjean to move to a new house. Eponine gives Marius a letter, and as she dies she tells him that she loves him. He kisses her on the forehead. When she is dead, he retreats to a tavern to read the letter. The letter is from Cosette. Marius writes a letter in response, but, unwilling to leave the barricades, he hands it to Gavroche to deliver to Cosette. In turn, Gavroche gives the letter to Valjean. Valjean is initially relieved that Cosette's lover may have been killed in the fighting, thereby solving a difficult problem for him. However, he eventually decides that he must fight on behalf the people. He ventures out into the street, prepared to fight alongside Marius and the students.

Part 5: Jean Valjean

Valjean rushes to the barricades. He saves a man's life as the fighting intensifies and is praised for his strength and fighting skill. Gavroche is shot dead while attempting to plunder more ammunition from the dead soldiers. Valjean volunteers to kill Javert. He leads Javert away, but—rather than kill Javert—he unties Javert and sends him away, shooting his pistol in the air to trick the revolutionaries into thinking that the prisoner is dead. The barricade collapses, and Marius is injured. Valjean carries Marius's body, escaping from the fighting through the sewers. When he reaches a locked gate, Thénardier appears but does not recognize Valjean. He assumes that Valjean is just another murderer, and that Marius is his victim, so he offers to open the gate in exchange for money. He rifles through the pockets of Valjean and Marius for cash, subtly stealing a piece of Marius's coat to later identify him. Thénardier takes 30 francs, opens the gate, and hopes that Valjean will distract the police from the former innkeeper’s crimes.

Passing through the gate, Valjean is stopped again. This time, Javert blocks his way. Javert is torn between doing his duty and sparing the man who spared his own life. To Valjean's surprise, Javert allows him to pass. The inspector believes that Marius is dying, and he accepts Valjean's desire to return the dying boy to his grandfather's house. After allowing Valjean to pass, Javert is so conflicted that he dies by suicide after throwing himself into the river.

At his grandfather's house, Marius recovers. His grandfather changes his mind and grants permission for Marius to marry Cosette. After their wedding, Valjean reveals the truth about his past to Marius. Worried by this revelation, Marius asks Valjean to stop seeing Cosette. When he agrees, Valjean becomes depressed and sick. Marius eventually learns from Thénardier that Valjean is the man who saved his life. He and Cosette rush to Valjean's bedside and reconcile before Valjean dies peacefully in his bed. 

Don't Miss Out!

Access Study Guide Now

Related Titles

By Victor Hugo

The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

Victor Hugo

Featured Collections

Books on Justice & Injustice

View Collection

French Literature

Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love

Mobile Menu

• Find a Tutor
• Connection User
• Edit Profile
• Forgot Password
• Novelguides by Title
• Reports & Essay by Title
• Quotes by Author
• Novelguides by Author
• Ask a Question
• Novelguides
• Connections
• Reports & Essays
• Ask Question
• Tutor's Market Place
• How it Works

What are You Studying?

Novelguide rooms, novelguide: search by author, novelguide: search by title, book navigation.

• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book One
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 1
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 2
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 3
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 4
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 5
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 6
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 7
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 1 - Book 8
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 1
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 2
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 3
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 4
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 5
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 6
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 7
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 2 - Book 8
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 1
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 2
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 3
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 4
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 5
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 6
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 7
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 3 - Book 8
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 01
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 02
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 03
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 04
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 05
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 06
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 07
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 08
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 09
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 10
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 11
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 12
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 13
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 14
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 4 - Book 16
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 1
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 2
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 3
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 4
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 5
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 7
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 8
• Les Miserables: Novel Summary: Section 5 - Book 9
• Les Miserables: Character Profiles
• Les Miserables: Metaphor Analysis
• Les Miserables: Theme Analysis
• Les Miserables: Top Ten Quotes
• Les Miserables: Biography: Victor-Marie Hugo

Les Miserables: Essay Q&A

1. Discuss the period of time wherein "Les Miserable" is set. Hugo's masterpiece covers a large portion of Revolutionary French history. The battle of Waterloo, the revolving-door of governments, and the numerous street barricade rebellions of the city of Paris during the 1830s all serve as a background for the story. The French Revolution brought about great changes in the society and government of France. The revolution, which lasted from 1789 to 1799, also had far-reaching effects on the rest of Europe. "It introduced democratic ideals to France but did not make the nation a democracy. However, it ended supreme rule by French kings and strengthened the middle class." (Durant, 12) After the revolution began, no European kings, nobles, or other members of the aristocracy could take their powers for granted or ignore the ideals of liberty and equality. The streets of Paris saw numerous riots when the people felt that King Louis Philippe was unable to end political corruption. Students and radical republicans joined forces with discontented workers to built barricades in the poorest quarters of the city. The men, most of them unemployed, built their barricades with iron grillwork, paving stones, overturned carriages and furniture. They also cut down the trees lining the streets. Between 1827 and 1849 the streets of Paris saw barricades eight times, always in the city's eastern half. Three times these barricades were a prelude to revolution. 2. Describe the setting for the novel "Les Miserable"? Amidst the redemption story, the love story, the bravery and heroism story, the setting for Les Miserables is the Parisian underworld. The novel depicts the living conditions and political problems of France and Paris during the French revolutions of 1830, 1832, and 1848. In doing so, Hugo portrays the life of the revolutionary middle class. Victor Hugo uses Fantine to exemplify the life of the single working woman. He shows how people take advantage of her and how she is thrown deeper and deeper into poverty and desperation by her circumstances. Even though she is able to procure a job as a factory worker, and finds a foster home for her illegitimate daughter, she has difficulty in making ends meet and becomes a prostitute in order to meet the payments that her daughter's caretakers require. Men had a wider range of opportunities and could work almost anywhere. Many men were skilled artisans, shopkeepers, factory workers, or unskilled migrant workers. Unfortunately jobs were not abundant and most people were poor and out of work. The working class lived either in boarding houses or apartments. Single workers would usually rent a room in a Boarding house and share a bed with another worker. Workers with families usually rented an apartment which consisted of one or two rooms. Usually it was shared with another family or with another generation of the same family. The rooms had no heat or candles for light and no water. The facilities were shared by all the occupants of the building and were located either on a landing or in the courtyard. The Thenadiers represent the struggles that a poor family had to endure. They try running an inn and when that fails they have nothing and live in utter poverty. They scheme and plot to try to get money but everything fails. In order to escape the crowded conditions of the home, the cafe provided a certain amount of relief. It offered entertainment and served as a meeting place mostly for men. This setting serves as the background at various times throughout the novel. 3. Develop the following thesis: The doctrine of French romanticism was set forth by Victor Hugo. The upheavals of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era were accompanied by new intellectual trends. An important figure in the Romantic Movement was Victor Hugo. He deviated from the traditional dramatic structure in the early 1830's when Romanticism was in its infancy. Victor Hugo not only wrote about Romanticism but he also lived the life of an ideal Romantic. He personified the Romantic image when he left France in 1851. Prior to this exile, he became active in politics and hoped to become Prime Minister of the new government established by the younger Bonaparte; the attempt was a failure. Disillusioned when Bonaparte seized absolute control, Hugo became a violent critic of the new regime and went into exile in 1851. The primary belief of the romantic was in the goodness of humanity; the rediscovery of the artist as a supremely individual creator; the development of nationalistic pride; and the delight of the senses and emotions over reason and intellect. Interest in religion and in the powers of faith were also important during the Romantic period, however the Romantics generally rejected absolute systems, whether they were philosophical or religious, in favor of the idea that each person (and humankind collectively) must create the system by which to live. Victor Hugo, in his poems, novels, and plays followed these beliefs and provided the greatest momentum to the romantic movement throughout the world.

• Facebook share

Top Novelguides

Quotes by topic, report & essay.

• Thomas Jefferson: the Man, the Myth, and the Morality
• JFK: His Life and Legacy
• Gerald Ford
• Harry Shippe Truman
• Herbert Hoover
• The Presidency of FDR
• J.F.K. Biography
• James Madison

Popular Novelguides

• To Kill A Mockingbird Discuss & QA
• The Great Gatsby Discuss & QA
• Lord of the Flies Discuss & QA
• Adventures of Huck Finn Discuss & QA
• The Catcher in the Rye Discuss & QA
• Animal Farm Discuss & QA
• 1984 Discuss & QA
• Fahrenheit 451 Discuss & QA
• Odysseus Discuss & QA
• Great Expectations Discuss & QA

William Shakespeare Novels

Quotes: search by author, search reports and essays.

Novelguide.com is the premier free source for literary analysis on the web. We provide an educational supplement for better understanding of classic and contemporary literature. Novelguide.com is continually in the process of adding more books to the website each week. Please check back weekly to see what we have added. Please let us know if you have any suggestions or comments or would like any additional information. Thanks for checking out our website. More Details

Our Networks

• novelguide.com
• studyhall.novelguide.com
• Homework Help
• flashcard.novelguide.com/
• video.novelguide.com
• Share Report & Essay
• Join a school
• Join a teacher group
• Test Prep Material

Useful Links

• See what's new on our blog
• All Question
• Novelguide Authors
• Search Your School
• Teacher ratings

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Book Review — Les Misérables: A Critical Analysis

Les Misérables: a Critical Analysis

• Categories: Book Review

About this sample

Words: 505 |

Published: Feb 7, 2024

Words: 505 | Page: 1 | 3 min read

Table of contents

Historical context, critical reception.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

• Expert in: Literature

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1406 words

9 pages / 3922 words

1 pages / 1872 words

3 pages / 1431 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Book Review

Call of the Wild is a story about a dog forcibly taken from his home and forced to adapt to his situation during the height of the Klondike Gold Rush in the Alaska Yukon region. While the story goes on to follow the main [...]

The Life of Pi is a story about survival, and how a belief in God can make a boy into a man and how facing life and death in the Pacific Ocean can lead to either utter despair or having an unwavering faith in God that can lead [...]

In the text “This is Water” by David Foster Wallace although many people may seem to the center of the universe, Wallace guides them to be aware of the world around them. Wallace uses emotional and logical appeals in his main [...]

I’ve read quite a few books in my lifetime. There were a few I’ve loved, there were even a few I’ve absolutely hated. I can honestly say I’ve read more books that I hated than I actually write, mostly because reading just isn’t [...]

Much of the critical debate surrounding Daniel Defoe's novel Moll Flanders centers around whether the author makes good on the promise he makes in the preface that the story will be morally instructive. For instance, Ira [...]

Anton Chekhov’s play Uncle Vanya portrays complicated relationships between several characters with rather distinct personalities. Staged at the nineteenth century, Chekhov's drama of everyday life stresses conflict amongst [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free