Essay of Les Miserables
Honors English 2
Period 3
James
5-17-13 Outside Reading: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo The historical fiction novel, Les Miserables, is written by Victor Hugo. The tragic figure named Jean Valjean is compelled by his past, desires, ambitions, obligations, and influences of others. Jean is an ex-convict and has been recently released. Everyone knows of the dastardly crimes he have performed not long ago. As he is left alone in the wilderness with nowhere to venture off to, he becomes compelled with awful thoughts and hauntings of his terrible past. A bishop named Monseigneur Bienvenu soon discovers this man and tries to erase all ties to his past and transform him into a new man. The conflicts within Jean illuminate the meaning of the work. Jean faces conflicts within himself and outside in reality. The dreams and memories of his unforgiveable past continue to haunt him night after night ever since his release from prison. His crime: murder of an innocent. After being freed, he searches for refuge and somewhere to eat because he is disheveled and worn out. Every person he encounters rejects him and forces him to leave or he will be killed. Jean, not ever knowing any kind of kindness in the world, begins to grow in anger. The dreams and recollections of his past terrorize him every night. As Jean was sleeping in a haystack one night, he says, “Curse you foul memories! If only I had the ability to undue my sins and crimes that blacken my heart every moment of these nights! Death would be welcomed under my roof, not even I can get under one”(15). The past of Jean and his compulsions tie into the author’s main point in the story: Through love, all things can be forgiven, and through forgiveness, all things can be loved. Jean’s dreams are of the blood he has spilled and visions of his wife and child who are missing. Jean needs love and forgiveness in order to survive and find what his purpose in
Period 3
James
5-17-13 Outside Reading: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo The historical fiction novel, Les Miserables, is written by Victor Hugo. The tragic figure named Jean Valjean is compelled by his past, desires, ambitions, obligations, and influences of others. Jean is an ex-convict and has been recently released. Everyone knows of the dastardly crimes he have performed not long ago. As he is left alone in the wilderness with nowhere to venture off to, he becomes compelled with awful thoughts and hauntings of his terrible past. A bishop named Monseigneur Bienvenu soon discovers this man and tries to erase all ties to his past and transform him into a new man. The conflicts within Jean illuminate the meaning of the work. Jean faces conflicts within himself and outside in reality. The dreams and memories of his unforgiveable past continue to haunt him night after night ever since his release from prison. His crime: murder of an innocent. After being freed, he searches for refuge and somewhere to eat because he is disheveled and worn out. Every person he encounters rejects him and forces him to leave or he will be killed. Jean, not ever knowing any kind of kindness in the world, begins to grow in anger. The dreams and recollections of his past terrorize him every night. As Jean was sleeping in a haystack one night, he says, “Curse you foul memories! If only I had the ability to undue my sins and crimes that blacken my heart every moment of these nights! Death would be welcomed under my roof, not even I can get under one”(15). The past of Jean and his compulsions tie into the author’s main point in the story: Through love, all things can be forgiven, and through forgiveness, all things can be loved. Jean’s dreams are of the blood he has spilled and visions of his wife and child who are missing. Jean needs love and forgiveness in order to survive and find what his purpose in