Crime and Punishment- Les Mis

Good Essays

Open Document

Open Document

View Writing Issues

524 Words

Grammar

Grammar

Plagiarism

Plagiarism

Writing

Writing

Score

Score

Crime and Punishment- Les Mis

Crime and Punishment Essay In the novel Les Miserables, by Victor Hugo, Jean Valjean is released from a French prison in the Galleys. He travels to a town and is rejected from any inn so he finds a bishop and he turns his life around. Years later he becomes M. Madeleine and becomes town mayor. He gives money and jobs and made the town a very prosperous town. He also promises Fantine that he will rescue her daughter, Cosette, from a cruel family that Fantine gave Cosette to so that Cosette could have a better life. Jean Valjean is an ex-convict who got 5 years for stealing bread for his family and then 14 years for trying to escape multiple times. Jail has changed Jean Valjean from a sweet humble man to a bitter, sinful, mean man.

Crime and punishment of this time is harsh and unjust. “It barley punishes the worst criminals but tears apart the lives of people who commit petty crimes” (SparkNotes Editors, 2002). An example of this is when Jean Valjean steals bread for his family. Stealing bread is a very petty crime and Jean Valjean is sent to a prison in the Galleys for 5 years but he ends up getting 14 years for trying to escape, so a total of 19 years for stealing bread. I believe most would agree with me that the French law enforcement is completely outrageous and unjust and unfair. Law enforcement should be more humane.

Victor Hugo is trying to convey that the justice system in France in this time period is unjust and not fair. Worst criminals get less time compared to what they did such as murder, but people who commit petty crimes get way too much time compared to their crimes. Jean Valjean got 5 years for stealing bread and 14 for trying to escape. Long term effects of punishment can be a change in a person. When Jean Valjean went into jail he was a sweet humble man but when he got out of jail he was a mean bitter man. Sometimes when people have been in jail for a while they get out of jail and it is too hard to get their life on track. People

Continue Reading

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

Satisfactory Essays
Lewis And Clark Comparison
- 166 Words
- 1 Page
Lewis And Clark Comparison

In the two articles, “Into the Unknown” and “Lewis and Clark Revisited” by World Almanac have many similarities and differences. For example, these two article are similar because they both were along the Mississippi River. In addition, even though the reenactment was not shot in the exact location, the sites still looked identical. While there are some similarities, there are also many differences. For example, in “into the unknown” they traveled in a boat with oars while crossing waterways where in the reenactment they used a boat with a motor. Also, the first explorers covered themselves in bear grease to protect themselves from mosquitoes where in the reenactment they used rush pills. Finally, explorers first camped in camp wood Illinois…
- 166 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Why Prisons Don T Work By Wilbert Rideau Summary
- 509 Words
- 3 Pages
Why Prisons Don T Work By Wilbert Rideau Summary

Rideau makes a point that because of mandatory sentences prisoners are much older. He states “rather than pay for new prisons, society would be well served by releasing some of its older prisoners who pose no threat and using the money to catch young street thugs” (41). Think about it. A fifty, sixty, or even seventy year old prisoner doesn’t necessarily pose a major threat to society; but, the younger criminals on the streets do. It shouldn’t take thirty, forty, or more years to rehabilitate someone. However, there are prisoners who are serial killers, rapists, and worse that do deserve to rot in prison. Prison times and sentences are decided by politicians and not necessarily the penal…
- 509 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Satisfactory Essays
Jean Valjean Quotes
- 454 Words
- 2 Pages
Jean Valjean Quotes

Jean Valjean represents change, cleverness, innovation, and a toughened peasant (before being mayor) whom society rejected due to his criminal history. He represents change because he used the silver that he stole/was given to become an honest business owner and mayor. His cleverness and innovation allowed him to do this. He invented a new way to make many things, and started a factory that employed many poor people. He was rejected in the city of D_______ by the mayor and the innkeeper. When he arrived in the other town, he didn’t show his passport, therefore giving him a blank slate with the town.…
- 454 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays

Read More
Good Essays
DBQ: Reign of Terror
- 656 Words
- 2 Pages
DBQ: Reign of Terror

“The execution of Louis XVI marked the beginning of the 18 month period of the French Revolution that has come to be called ‘The Reign of Terror’”(49). It was led by no other than Robespierre, in an attempt to start a new government, which proceeded to execute large numbers of people. The 18 months was a blood pouring event during the French Revolution. These events were unnecessary and the whole Reign of Terror was unjustified because it was a sin to kill, they went against what other through and what was right, and they went beyond what was necessary.…
- 656 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Better Essays
Angelique and the burning of montreal
- 1722 Words
- 7 Pages
Angelique and the burning of montreal

The day was April 10th 1734 and Montreal was on fire. Undoubtedly back then, Montreal was a very different place than it is today; it was a trade and military town of about 2000 people. Canada would still have 100 years before she became a nation and it was a time when Montreal’s social class mirrored that of its indigenous home France. Slavery was very much a part of everyday society and many citizens had slaves of African and Amerindian descent. No one on that day could have possibly foreseen what was to come and the replications it would have for centuries to come. It was an unusually mild Saturday evening and the people who had attended evening prayer were beginning to make their way home. Among them was Thérèse de Couagne, widow of François Poulin de Francheville and the owner of Angélique a slave of African American decent who was born in Portugal and later sold into New France. “At seven the sentry sounded the alarm ‘fire!’”, that evening a devastating fire occurred in Montréal that destroyed a hospital and 45 houses on rue Saint-Paul. Someone was to blame for this catastrophe and it was Angelique. After being tried and convicted of setting fire to her owner’s home, burning much of what is now referred to as Old Montreal, she was hanged. In order to get a stronger understanding of crime and punishment in New-France, one must examine the trial in a much more in depth context.…
- 1722 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Les Mis (Unabbridged) - Quotes
- 732 Words
- 3 Pages
Les Mis (Unabbridged) - Quotes

M. Myriel “Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God.”…
- 732 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Coyote Poem Analysis
- 319 Words
- 2 Pages
Coyote Poem Analysis

Remarkably, his smiling at Coyote’s tracks provides evidence of the positive influence Coyote has on his life. He also prays for good luck – for both him and Coyote. What is also interesting is the “thanks”. Here, he is showing his gratitude for Coyote’s guidance and help he has provided during trying times, and the good luck he wishes to have as he continues onward in life. He employs to shed Coyote in a more positive light than he has been in before. Like other Native-Americans, he sees Coyote as something not all entirely bad. He recognizes that Coyote does cause trouble for both himself and others, but he also can be helpful in getting others out of trouble as well. He does not only sees him as a guiding figure, but he also sees himself in Coyote as well.…
- 319 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Satisfactory Essays
Pros and Cons of Probation and Parole
- 553 Words
- 3 Pages
Pros and Cons of Probation and Parole

The disparate practices of meeting out justice were forcefully challenged in the eighteenth century with the advent of classicalism. During this era, philosophers, such as Montesquieu and Voltaire, spoke out aganist the French penal code and inhumane and ineqitable punishments. Jean Rousseau and Cesare Beccaria argued for a radical concept of justice based on equality. At a time when laws and law enforcement were unjust and disparate and punishments was often brultal, they demanded justice based on equality and punishment that was humane and proportionate to the offence.…
- 553 Words
- 3 Pages
Satisfactory Essays

Read More
Better Essays
Criminological Theories Portrayed in the Hunchback of Notre Dame
- 1978 Words
- 8 Pages
Criminological Theories Portrayed in the Hunchback of Notre Dame

The setting for this movie is France after it has been involved in many years of war and the country is trying to rebuild itself. Until this point religion has played a major role in most of the individual’s livelihood. During this time period of the movie many free thinkers come to light with ideas of how to improve the country and philosophers begin popping up. There are many people in the society who do not agree with their ideas, especially those who are in the church. Punishment during this time would not be considered humanistic to those who were born in this day in age. They conducted public punishment that ranged from whippings to killings. Often times, individuals who went against societies…
- 1978 Words
- 8 Pages
Better Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Javert: a Man with a Mission
- 597 Words
- 3 Pages
Javert: a Man with a Mission

Many times in life, people start to wholeheartedly follow a goal. They focus solely on the goal, abandoning all reason and logic. Javert was one of these people. In Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, Javert was a police inspector who believed in absolutes. Consequently, for him, nothing could be both right and wrong; things were either completely good or completely bad. This attitude helped form his goal of life: to follow the law obediently and punish all criminals. Javert’s commitment to his goal led to his cruel hunt of Jean Valjean and his later suicide. His obsession with his goal also had an extensive influence on the theme of the novel. Javert’s goal thus shaped Hugo’s Les Misérables in both plot and meaning.…
- 597 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Personal Narrative Essay: Redemption In A Softball Team
- 721 Words
- 3 Pages
Personal Narrative Essay: Redemption In A Softball Team

Jean Valjean lived as mayor and helped better the lives of many people. His true test of character comes when an honest worker, Champmathieu, is wrongly accused of being the criminal, Jean Valjean. Valjean battles with himself about giving himself up as Jean Valjean for the freedom of an innocent man. Three convicts identify, so to speak, Champmathieu as Jean Valjean. Valjean thinks it over a long while weather it is worth it or not to come clean and save this man. Valjean goes to Champmathieu’s court hearing and sits, listening with a heavy heart until the closing arguments. Jean Valjean then stands up and tells the three convicts to “look this way.” He then admits to being the real Jean Valjean. “Do you not recognize me,” he asks. (116) Valjean continues to redeem himself and keep his promise to the bishop of being an honest man. He does this by sacrificing his freedom for that of an innocent…
- 721 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Bill Of Rights Synthesis Essay
- 795 Words
- 4 Pages
Bill Of Rights Synthesis Essay

“There will never be a really free and enlightened state until the state comes to recognize the individual as a higher and independent power, from which all its own power and authority are derived.” (Thoreau 1849). Peaceful resistance positively impacts a free society in three ways: keeping the Bill of Rights alive, inspiring others to promote change through passive protest, and widening people's perspectives while respecting the law.…
- 795 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Better Essays
Les Miserables Essay
- 1199 Words
- 5 Pages
Les Miserables Essay

“So long as the three problems of the age- the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, and the dwarfing of childhood by physical and spiritual night- are not solved… books like this cannot be useless,” (Hugo Preface). In his novel, Les Miserables, Victor Hugo illustrates these problems throughout the plot, adding to the public obsession over the book. Most went crazy over the light he shone on the struggles of France in the late 1800s, instead of the happy love stories many authors were writing about at that time. Through Les Miserables, Hugo ties the degradation of man by poverty, the ruin of women by starvation, or the dwarfing of childhood into almost all of the characters introduced.…
- 1199 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Human Nature (Les Miserables)
- 563 Words
- 3 Pages
Human Nature (Les Miserables)

I agree with the statement, “In Les Miserables, Victor Hugo is trying to say that human nature is basically good”. Victor Hugo is doing this by having his book consist of many characters who symbolize human nature’s goodness within the story. This is because he creates goodness within the characters by making them be forgiving, thankful, become morally righteous, and possess good intentions towards helping others therefore, Hugo’s message is to tell people that human nature is good but society is what makes them sometimes posses a bad personality. Another way Hugo is saying that human nature is good is when he makes all the characters, which resemble human beings, forgive their antagonist, be compassionate, and become unselfish just like Jean Valjean and Javert did by both freeing each other. Human nature is not bad because in the book human beings do not let their id take complete control of their decision making instead they let their superego and ego take part in their decision making. Another reason why human nature is not bad is because people learn fear and hatred thus meaning that in the beginning they were good but toward the end they learned but not are bad just like some characters in the book. I agree with the statement, “In Les Miserables, Victor Hugo is trying to say that human nature is basically good”.…
- 563 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays

Read More
Good Essays
Crime and Punishment
- 493 Words
- 2 Pages
Crime and Punishment

Punishment is defined as the infliction of a penalty for an offense. The novel Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky took place in St. Petersburg, Russia, mid 1860s. The main character, Raskolnikov, committed the murder of a pawn broker and her sister which he became ill with guilt. He is accused as the murderer but denied it until the end where he eventually confessed and was sent to Siberia. In the novel, Raskolnikov had an unbearable amount of guilt, faced punishment by imprisonment, and gave his heart to God for forgiveness. Conflicts he was put through helped illuminate the meaning of the novel: For all crimes, there will be punishment.…
- 493 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays

Read More

Related Topics