WARM UP
„ You have five minutes to meet with your
group and discuss your presentation. Make a
final decision on how you will present your
information to the class. In addition, be
prepared to discuss your unit objective
examples and answer any questions your
peers may have.
LES MISÉRABLES
Victor Hugo
PURPOSE
„ REVIEW Les Misérables – Unit Test on Thursday,
December 3
„ Speaking and Listening Curriculum Goals
„  Students can initiate and participate in academic collaborative
discussions with or without the teacher.
„  Students can clearly present information and conclusions.
„  Students can adapt their language/speech according to the context
or situation.
BOOK ONE
Fantine
FANTINE – SUMMARY
„  Jean Valjean enters the town of D--
„  He was unknown by everyone, so all they knew him as was a raggedy traveler.
„  Valjean went to the inn, where the innkeeper came up with kind excuses to turn him
away.
„  After the inn he went to the tavern where the owner was harsh when turning Jean
Valjean away.
„  Jean Valjean was then left on the street seeking shelter, then he arrives at the jail
where the prison guard made a snide comment that only prisoners can stay there.
„  He finds refuge at the Bishop’s house, Madame M knows he is a criminal
„  Jean Valjean reassures them that he is a dangerous criminal, but they still accept him.
„  His mom and dad died when he was young, and he was appointed to take care of his
family, he spent 19 years in prison for stealing bread for his family.
„  After gaining the bishop’s trust he steals his silver, ruins his garden and breaks the
basket.
FANTINE – SUMMARY CONTINUED
„  The bishop says he wants Jean Valjean to use the silver to become an honest man
„  after stealing petit gervais money he enters a state of reformation
„  Fantine gave the Thenardiers Cosette who then used her money against her and
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treated Cosette like an orphan.
Jean Valjean becomes the mayor of M— sur M—referred to as Father Madeleine
As mayor everyone loves Father Madeleine
Father Madeleine mourned for the bishop and his death made Jean Valjean want to
be an even better person.
Javert is the only person in M— sur M— that does not trust Madeleine, however
Madeleine treats him the same.
Father Fauchelevent is a man who doesn’t like Monsieur Madeleine and he is caught
under his cart and Madeleine saves him.
When Madeleine saves Father Fauchelevent it confirms Javert’s suspicions that
Madeleine is Jean Valjean because of his strength.
After Fauchelevent is saved Monsieur Madeline makes him a gardener in Paris.
After the incident with Father Fauchelevent Javert comes to visit Monsieur
Madeleine where Madeleine receives Javert very coldly.
FANTINE – SUMMARY CONTINUED
„  Jean Valjean was charged for being a bandit, outlaw, convict, thief,
highway robbery being armed stealing from Petit.
„  Champmathieu was nervous in the courtroom, because he knew his
identity so he didn’t think he needed to be in court.
„  Fantine was deathly ill as she laid with the appearance of an angel.
„  Monsieur Madeleine promised Fantine that he would bring Cosette to
her on her deathbed.
„  While Madeleine is with Fantine, Javert enters right as Fantine is dying.
„  As soon as Monsieur Madeleine gets finished arranging Fantine’s head
on the pillow, he turns himself in to Javert.
„  Jean Valjean is put in jail, then escapes and returns to his room to deal
with the stolen items he had acquired.
„  Sister Simplice then lies for the first time to protect Jean Valjean.
FANTINE – UNIT OBJECTIVES
„  Fantine is described as angel-like when she was on her deathbed- She had a
beautiful appearance while she was laying in bed. Her hair had turned white
and she looked at peace.
„  Cosette was punished after her mother died, she was no longer able to pay
the Thenardiers so she was treated even more poorly than she was before.
The Thenardiers just cared about their money, and wanted nothing to do
with Cosette. Therefore she was punished for being poor.
„  Jean Valjean was abandoned by almost everyone in M-- sur M-- when he was
put in jail, and it shows criminals aren’t accepted in 19th century France.
This is also demonstrated when Jean Valjean was walking through town and
everyone was staring at him from their windows.
„  The candlesticks remind Jean Valjean of the bishop, and they help him
change into a better person, so he always had a reminder about how he
should act.
BOOK TWO
Cosette
COSETTE – SUMMARY
„  After Fantine's death, Jean Valjean gives himself up and he returns to the galleys. After
a short while at the galleys he soon escapes by saving a man who was stuck in the
cords near the mass and they allowed him to be free to save him. He then pretended
to fall and swim away, the body was not found, therefore Jean Valjean was claimed
dead. Jean Valjean then went to purchase a dress for Fantine’s daughter, Cosette. She
was the reasoning behind his escape from the galleys, to save her from the
Thenardier’s because he promised the mother he would do so. After rescuing
Cosette from the Thenardier’s, him and Cosette go to the Gorbeau House. Even
though Jean Valjean has only known her for a short period of time he starts to love
the child. Jean Valjean even begins to teach her to read. Cosette unknowingly gave
him the love he needed in order to not fall back on old habits and he gave her a
sense of protection. In the town that they were in, Jean Valjean was known as the
beggar who gives alms. Due to him being known as the beggar of alms, the landlady
began to have suspicions about him and he eventually sees him take from the lining
of his coat a bank bill for a thousand francs. To cause Jean Valjean to be more alert he
realized the beggar in the street was Javert. To confirm his suspicions he sees Javert
enter the Gorbeau House at night and in fear of Javert catching onto him again, he
leaves the house.
COSETTE – SUMMARY CONTINUED
„  After leaving the house Jean Valjean realizes that Javert is after them, they
come to a secluded corner adjacent to a wall. He knows he can scale the
wall but he doesn’t know how to carry Cosette up it safely, he needs some
way to get her up the wall. In looking around hurriedly, he spotted a rope,
after procuring the rope he ties it to Cosette’s waist. He scales the wall,
tells Cosette to put her back up to it and he pulls her up the wall allowing
them both to escape Javert’s grasp. Once they are behind the wall, they find
safety in the garden and they hear singing. Jean Valjean gives his coat to
Cosette to keep her from being too cold in the night. During this time, of
them having to hide, he realizes that she is his everything, he only loves her. As they sit in the garden Jean hears a bell and realizes that they are not
alone in the garden. However the man that they encounter is familiar to “M.
Madeleine”, Jean Valjean’s old alias, the man whom they encountered was M.
Fauchevelent. Fauchevelent was surprised to see “M. Madeleine” in the
convent since he is the only man allowed in the convent and does not know
how he was able to get inside. COSETTE – UNIT OBJECTIVES
„  “Define realism and cite examples from the novel” „  In recent days, people have escaped from jail and faked their own death in order to stay
out of jail. „  “Identify which characters are compared to beasts and discuss implications
of these comparisons” „  They compare Jean Valjean to an owl because he can only go out at night to protect his
identity. Javert was compared to a tiger due to the way he was looking at Jean, it was
similar to a tiger looking at its prey. „  “Cite examples of man-versus-self conflict within the novel and discuss
these conflicts’ effects on the formation of the plot” „  When Jean Valjean and Cosette are in the garden and they hear the bells Jean Valjean
debates whether to speak to the man in the garden or to stay out of view. It shows that
Jean can care about someone else other than himself and he keeps her alive.
„  “Identify the use of figurative language: imagery, simile, metaphor, and
allusions” „  “This ray of light was an evil star in the black background of the door and the wall” „  This represents that instead of the light is no longer his change or God, it represents his
soon to come exposure. BOOK THREE
Marius
MARIUS – SUMMARY
„ When we are first introduced to Marius, he is a young man
being cared for by his 90 year old grandfather. (Monsieur
Gillenormands. Marius’ father is named Georges Pontmercy
and he was colonel in Napoleon’s army. Marius lacks feelings
for his father because Gillenormands told him that his
father left him. When Marius turns 18 years old, his
grandfather tells him that his father is sick and that he
wants to see him. Before Marius can make it to see his
father, he passes away. Since he never believed about his
fathers love for him, Marius didn't grieve for him. MARIUS – SUMMARY CONTINUED
„ After his father passes, Marius finds a note
requesting Marius to find Thenardier and help him
in any way he can. Marius later learns that his father
visited Paris every couple months to watch his son
in mass. After hearing about this, Marius begins to
study his father. Marius then gets in a argument
with his grandfather which caused him to move out
and not receive any help from him grandfather. MARIUS – SUMMARY CONTINUED
„ When Marius moves away, he is introduced to a
group of people who later introduce him to a
society called friends of the ABC. In this group, he
defends Napoleon which the others are not
interested in. He later quits the group and lives on
his own. Marius is sent into poverty and he finds
himself and also receives great help from the
Church Warden, Mabeuf. MARIUS – SUMMARY CONTINUED
„ Marius turns into an attractive young man. He is
not interested in women until he see Cosette
sitting in a park bench. For days, he is lovestruck
and goes back to see her. Six months go by and
Marius is falling in love and begins to notice she has
changed into a beautiful young women. Jean notices
Marius and gives him a cold stair. After Marius
follows them home, they move away. MARIUS – SUMMARY CONTINUED
„  Marius tries to find “Ursula”, but he has no luck (Ursula is what Marius
calls Cosette because he doesn't know her name yet). Eponine, Marius
neighbor comes over and is attracted to Marius immediately and she
begs for money. Marius gives her his last 5 francs and she leaves. Marius
later finds a crack in the wall and he watches as Jondrette (Thenardiers)
begs Leblanc (Valjean) for rent money. Leblanc agrees and promises to
come back later. When Leblanc returns with the money, he is ambushed
and he tells them he has no money. The Jondrettes then reveal
themselves as the Thenardiers and Marius recognizes the name as the
man who helped his father. As Jean is on the verge of death, Marius
debates if he should help Jean or if should help the Thenardiers who
saved is fathers life. Marius finally decides to slip a note through the
crack. Javert comes in and in all the confusion Jean escapes through the
window. MARIUS – UNIT OBJECTIVES
„  Role Of women in the 19th century:
„  The role of women in the 19th century was to do whatever the man wanted them to
do. Just to marry and have children, take care of the house and raise the kids.
„  Ex. Marius just looks at Cosette just to see her physical features, not to talk to her
and see what her real personality is.
„  Cite examples of the humiliation and shame caused by poverty:
„  Ex. Marius didn't talk to other people very much because he was so poor. He kinda
kept to himself all the time and acted like a hermit.
„  Ex. Thenardier trapped Jean Valjean just to get money and maybe find Cosette, even
though Jean already bought Cosette from him.
MARIUS – UNIT OBJECTIVES CONTINUED
„  Identify which characters are compared to beasts. „  1 Victor Hugo compares Thenardier to a beast is an example of figurative language. He says
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fierce jaws about to bite like a wild beast is an example of a simile. It shows that he is a bad
person, but not in jail.
2. He says the les Miserables are the unfortunate and infamous associated into the les
miserables. 3. Marius saw how the father of the thenardier house treated his wife and daughter.
4. Hugo compares thenardier to a beast to get the point across that he is desperate for
money.
5. Hugo compares and contrasts M. Gillenormand’s two daughters saying they both have
wings but one like an angel, the other like a goose. Which it is saying how they seem similar
but as a whole they are very different
6. Hugo also compares thenardier to jean valjean to show the differences in the two
characters.
7. Hugo shows how it was hard for jean valjean to have a good life, and that people kept
taking from him. He showed this when they made jean pay for cosette. BOOK FOUR (1)
Saint and Idyl Denis
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (1) – SUMMARY
„  Marius promptly leaves the Rue de la Verrerie and relocates to the
Boulevard de la Sante . One day, Eponine, the eldest of the Thénardier
girls, approaches Marius and tells him that she has the address of the
young lady (Cosette) that he requested. In the next section, Jean Valjean
moves out of the convent and into the House in the Rue Plumet (but he
still visits Cosette regularly) and Valjean takes on the name “Ultimus
Fauchelevent”. Soon after, Jean Valjean joins the National Guard.
Eventually, Cosette leaves the convent and joins Valjean at the House in
the Rue Plumet. By this time, she is around the age of fourteen. Cosette
loves Valjean with all of her heart and thinks of him as both a mother
and a father figure. Cosette realizes that she is in fact very beautiful, and
Valjean realizes this as well.Valjean is very thankful to be loved by
someone as beautiful and as innocent as Cosette.
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (1) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„ Eventually, Cosette and Marius begin to see each other in
the park again. They exchange glances, and begin to adore
one another. (Valjean notices this, and is not in favor of it.) It
is brought to our attention that Cosette and Valjean begin
to silently make each other miserable; however, neither of
them bring it to attention. One day when Cosette goes on
her usual walk to see Marius, she finds a very convincing
love letter under a stone on her seat, but there is no name
on it. (She assumes it is from Marius). At the and of the
section, Marius and Cosette learn each other’s name.
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (1) – UNIT
OBJECTIVES
„  Symbol : A thing that represents or stands for something else,
especially a material object representing something abstract.
„  Example:
„  Man-versus-self conflict : On pages 243-244, Hugo tells us that
Valjean had began to question himself. He asked himself all his happiness
were really his own, and if it was not made up of the happiness of
another (Cosette). Due to this conflict, he resolved to leave the convent
and let Cosette discover life on her own.
„  Figurative Language : “It seemed to her [Cosette] that she had
commenced life in an abyss, and that Jean Valjean has drawn her out of
it.” Through this quote, Hugo explains how fond Cosette is of Valjean,
and that she looks up to him and believes her mother’s soul has been
passed to this man in order to take care of her.
BOOK FOUR (2)
Saint and Idyl Denis
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (2) – SUMMARY
„  In this section of Les Miserables, Marius and Cosette have
revealed their love for one another. Their young relationship was
threatened by the leaving of Jean Valjean and Cosette, who were
planning to go to England. Cosette wanted Mrius to go with
them, but he explained to her how he was poor and could not
afford that kind of thing. At this time Jean Valjean had been
unaware of their relationship. He found Marius’ address carved
into the wall, he doesn’t know what it means exactly, but has his
superstitions. He and Cosette leave their home. When Marius
goes and finds his Cosette is no longer there, he decides there is
no reason for him to live, and goes to join the barricades.
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (2) – UNIT
OBJECTIVES
„ Marius Vs. Self
„  Marius lived outside of reality for six weeks, Marius was trying to
escape reality to escape the fact that he was poor and that he didn’t
have much and also to escape the fact that him and Cosette
couldn’t be together. When he met Cosette again she was leaving
for England with her father for “business” reasons, Cosette asked
Marius to come with him, but he didn't have any money so could
not go with her, this brought Marius straight back down to reality.
Marius didn't have hardly anything at all, his clothes were basically
rags and his shoes let in water, therefore he had nothing to sell, he
was a miserable wretch.
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (2) – UNIT
OBJECTIVES
„ The Inhumane Treatment of Convicts and Ex-Convicts
„  At the beginning of the novel, we are introduced to the protagonist,
Jean Valjean. He is a man who was given a five year prison sentence
for stealing bread; he had to stay in prison for nineteen years due to
the fact that he had attempted to escape on several occasions. Jean
is not welcome anywhere; he’s an outcast of society simply because
of the crime he committed so many years before.
„  Ironically, the Parisian police deal with real criminals in a different
matter. Members of the Patron-Minette street gang were given
relatively shorter sentences compared to Jean’s.
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (2) – UNIT
OBJECTIVES
„ Humiliation and Shame Caused by Poverty
„  Victor Hugo provides us with characters who suffered through poverty.
„  A good example of this is Fantine: a single mother with a no education and
little means to provide for her daughter, Cosette. Fantine convinces the
Thenardier family to take in her child. Fantine paid the Thenardiers so they
could use the money to support her. The Thenardiers are greedy and insist
on having Fantine send more money, when Fantine can barely get by day-today. Sadly, Fantine perishes due to her health.
„  Another example is the Thenardier family. Although they took the money
Fantine gave them for themselves, the inn that the family owned failed and
the family found themselves going through hard times. They have to end up
begging for money; the parents involve their children in cheating people out
of their money.
SAINT AND IDYL DENIS (2) – UNIT
OBJECTIVES
„ The usage of Figurative Language
„  “Never had the sky been more studded with stars, or more charming….”
Personification, the sky can’t be charming. pg. 269
„  Marius gave Gavroche a letter so he wouldn't be in battle in a way to repay
Thenardier for saving his father life. Instead Gavroche goes that same day
and delivers the letter and hurries back to battle. Irony because we know
that Gavroche is Thenardiers son and Marius owes him his father’s life. pg
293
„  Jean Valjean gave Gavroche money when he deliver the letter because he
lives on the streets and his a small boy. Irony Jean Valjean use to go to his
house and bring him food to him and his family and he is doing the same
thing here again. pg. 299
BOOK FIVE (1)
Jean Valjean
BOOK FIVE (1) – WAR BETWEEN FOUR
WALLS
„  The war is heating up.
„  Enjolras tells the men with families to go home because there is going to be an
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attack on the barricade.
Enjolras only has four uniforms for the men to leave safely.
Jean sacrifices his uniform so that the fifth man can leave safely.
Gavorche gets shot trying to gather ammo.
Enjolras order Javert to be killed since the army is about to storm the barricade.
Jean doesn’t kill him. He sets him free and gives him his address.
Enjolras orders a retreat because the attackers are becoming too much to bare.
In the process Marius is shot and Jean comes to the rescue.
Allusion - Then resounded over the pile of paving-stone, in this Rue de la Chanvrerie, a
struggle worthy of the walls of Troy
Jean carries him to safety and hides with him in a sewer.
Comparison- Jean is compared to beast when he rescued Marius because when Jean saw
him hurt he swooped in and grabbed him like the prey of his beast.
BOOK FIVE (1) – MIRE, BUT SOUL
„  Jean Valjean carried Marius through the sewer
„  He sees his shadow cast in front of him because of the police’s lights
„  As Jean walks he feels Marius’ blood running over him & he feels his breath against
his ear
„  He notices that the water is flowing in a direction that he is moving downhill
„  The police are shining lights and Jean sees his shadow in front of him
„  Jean presses through the sewer but he is beginning to become weak
„  He comes to a branching & realizes he must risk capture or expire in the sewer so
he chooses to continue down the river
„  Women had the role of tending to the household. Which includes their husbands, children,
parents, and sometimes their in-laws.They tended to all these tasks while being 2nd class
citizens.
„  Convicts were treated with disrespect, no one would take them in or try to help them better
themselves.
BOOK FIVE (1) – JAVERT OFF THE TRACK
„ Javert is contemplating how the law may be wrong because
he almost had his life taken away by Jean.
„ Man vs Self - Javert can’t decide whether he should let Jean go
or not. His heart says no but his morals say yes.
„ He doesn’t know if he should let Jean walk free of charges
or not
„ He finally comes to the decision that he doesn’t want to
follow him around anymore like before, or ruin his life.
BOOK FIVE (1) – THE GRANDSON AND
THE GRANDFATHER (PART 1)
„  Marius has been declared stable after 4 months and voluntarily rested
for 2 additional months before telling his grandfather what he wanted to
do.
„  Marius, remembering the tensions of him and his grandfather, prepares
to fight for his approval of marrying Cosette.
„  In a hostile manner, asks his grandfather permission to marry Cosette.
„  Monsieur Gillenormand approves of his request and arranges when
Marius is to see Cosette.
„  Irony- M. Gillenormand call Jean M. Tranchelevent instead of Fauchelevent. This
is ironic because Jean usually cares about what people call him.
„  Jean Valjean and Cosette enter Marius’ house and Marius and Cosette
adore each other.
BOOK FIVE (1) – THE GRANDSON AND
THE GRANDFATHER (PART 2)
„  Mademoiselle Gillenormand asks Jean Valjean for Cosette’s hand in marriage
for Marius.
„  Jean Valjean, after Monsieur Gillenormand states their possible faith,
reassures him of Cosette’s wealth.
„  Victor Hugo then proceeds to tell how Jean Valjean kept his money even
through his arrests. How he kept it by burying in a chest at a secret
location.
„  The wedding begins to be arranged, with Jean Valjean helping with as much
joy as Cosette herself.
„  It is said then how Cosette lawfully was never written down as Jean Valjean’s
daughter. She was listed as an orphan after his death but Jean Valjean legally
became her guardian afterwards. The nuns never really knew whom Cosette
actually belonged to.
„  It was arranged for Marius and Cosette to live in Monsieur Gillenormand’s
house.
BOOK FIVE (1) – THE WHITE NIGHT BY: JOHN
ALEXANDER THE GREAT WHITE
„ It’s the wedding night of Cosette and Marius.
„ Jean has hurt his right hand and goes home.
„ Jean is home and see that all the closets are open
and everything of Cosette's is gone even her
pillowcases and her feminine objects that she had
was gone.
„ Jean gets out the valise and opens it and gets out
the garments from when Cosette had left
Montfermeil.
BOOK FIVE (2)
Jean Valjean
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
„ Jean Valjean is absent from the wedding feast. He claims that
he is suffering from his injury and must return to bed. In his
absence, Marius takes Valjean’s place at Cosette’s side. While
the couple celebrates, Jean Valjean lays out Cosette’s
mourning outfit and remembers how he saved her, how
they walked together, how they belonged soley to each
other, and he weeps.
„  The Use of BLACK and WHITE à Black represents death, hopelessness,
sorrow, and pain. Jean Valjean feels as if his life is finished now that Cosette
belongs to Marius. White represents rebirth, hope, purity, and innocence.
Cosette begins a new and exciting adventure as a married woman.
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„  Jean Valjean wrestles (man vs. self conflict) with the issue of his
role in Cosette’s new life. He questions whether he should be the
type of father that he had been, respected and scares, or whether
he should be a presence in her life and retain as must of Cosette
as he can. He does not want to lose Cosette, but he does not
want to interfere in her happiness with Marius.
„  Marius invites Jean Valjean to move into his house. However, Jean
Valjean reveals his true identity to Marius. Cosette is not his
daughter. (man vs. self conflict – Jean Valjean’s conscience and
honor compel him to reveal himself. He elevates himself in his
own eyes by telling the truth and degrades himself in Marius’
eyes.)
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„ Although Marius is horrified, he remains composed and
states that his father has influential friends – he could
secure a pardon for Jean Valjean. However, this plan will not
work because the legal system believes Jean Valjean to be
dead. Marius then agrees that Jean Valjean may visit Cosette
every evening.
„  Figurative Language – “To suddenly find such a secret in the midst of one’s happiness is like the
discovery of a scorpion in a nest of turtle doves.” – Jean Valjean is compared to a scorpion,
dangerous and undesirable, and Cosette to a turtledove, gentle and beautiful. Marius has found a
dangerous, unwanted creature in Cosette’s life. This precarious revelation could destroy Cosette,
just as a scorpion could destroy a nest of turtledoves.
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„ Jean Valjean visits Cosette every evening in the cellar, feeling
that he is only worthy of the cellar. He refers to Cosette as
Madame and insists that she calls him Monsieur instead of
father. These two changes begin a separation between
Cosette and Valjean.
„ Cosette needs permission from her husband to call Jean
Valjean Monsieur Jean. – Women in 19th Century France are
significantly inferior to men and belong either to their
fathers or to their husbands. Any change in women’s lives
necessitates the permission of their superiors.
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„  During the spring and summer of 1833 Jean Valjean ceases to visit
Cosette. He continues the walk but gradually decreases the
distance.
„  Now that Jean Valjean no longer visits, Marius suspects that
Cosette’s fortune is ill-gotten gains and he intends to restore it
to its rightful owner.
„  After the doctor visits and observes that Jean Valjean is dying of
emotional pain, Jean Valjean lights the silver candlesticks. While
these have represented his new life blessed by the bishop, now
they represent the light of heaven, the light of his faith. He lights
the candlesticks as a symbol of his death. He is eighty-years-old.
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„  Jean Valjean writes his last words to Cosette, attempting to
explain how it was honestly earned and that it truly belongs to
Marius and Cosette.
„  Thénardier returns and wants money. He claims that Jean Valjean
is a robber and an assassin. Marius claims that Jean Valjean robbed
Monsieur Madeleine, causing his ruin, and that Jean Valjean killed
Javert. However, Thénardier cannot tolerate unjust accusations.
He produces newspaper clippings to clear Jean Valjean of Marius’
allegations. The first varifies that Jean Valjean was M. Madeleine,
and the second confirms Javert’s death as a suicide.
„  Marius is ecstatic and proclaims Jean Valjean a hero and a saint.
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„ Thénardier then relays the events in the sewer and claims
Jean Valjean had killed and robbed the young man whom he
carried over his shoulders (his evidence: the cloth that he
tore from the man’s coat). This infuriates Marius. Marius
announces that he knows him as Jondrette and that he
knows enough about him to send him to the galleys. Marius
gives him money and orders Thénardier to leave for
America. Once in America, Thénardier becomes a slaver,
which is nothing different from what he was in France.
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„  After hearing the entire story, Marius realizes Jean Valjean came to the
barricade to save him and equates Jean Valjean to an angel who saved
Javert, Marius, and many others.
„  Cosette is once again compared to an angel. Were it not for Cosette,
there would be nothing redeeming about Jean Valjean. He would have
resumed his criminal ways long ago. She has served as an angel guiding
him into a sanctified and virtuous life.
„  Jean Valjean feels that Marius (for his past) and Cosette (for his
separation) have forgiven him. Jean Valjean remains humble and does not
want Cosette to know what he has done to save Marius and bring the
two together (indirect characterization – true selflessness). His mission
was to provide for Cosette and this he did through self-sacrifice.
JEAN VALJEAN (2) – SUMMARY
CONTINUED
„  As he dies, Jean Valjean requests that Marius and Cosette mourn for him,
but not too deeply. He wishes to be buried beneath an unmarked stone. He
verifies the legitimacy of Cosette’s fortune and insists that Marius and
Cosette use it for their happiness. He designates his own five-hundred
francs for the poor. He gives the candlesticks to Cosette and emphasizes
their sacred importance. He tells Marius and Cosette to forgive the
Thénardiers, despite their wickedness. Jean Valjean finally tells Cosette about
her mother and her love for Cosette.
„  Jean Valjean is buried beneath a nameless stone off the path in a deserted
corner of a cemetery far from the elegance of the city. The grass is tall and
no people walk that way. This is all fitting for Jean Valjean – indicating his
simplicity and humility. In addition, Jean Valjean spent most of his life
concealing his identity to protect Cosette. He lies beneath a stone that
bears no name, no indication of what his name represented.