Who Is Javert A Dynamic Character

Throughout the novel Les Miserables, the character development of Javert and Jean Valjean has differed completely. Javert is an optimal example of law and order, as he dedicates his life to enforcing the law, creating the mutual relationship between a law-breaker and law-enforcer. Jean Valjean has a sense of confusion pondering over the question, “Am I a sinner or a saint?” The development of Javert has remained relatively stagnant as Jean Valjean is dynamic. Javert is a relatively flat character and finds it difficult to cope with change, especially when it is concerned with personal values, showing his submission to the law. He has neither good nor evil characteristics; he is simply the incarnation of the law, an entity that never questions itself and that proceeds to enact
its own precepts without concern for its victims.
He believes that there are only two categories defined strictly by law, good and evil, and no one can walk the dividing line. Moral values are not taken into account as Javert has a staunch philosophy of “no mercy”. “To owe life to a malefactor . . . to be, in spite of himself, on a level with a fugitive from justice . . . to betray society in order to be true to his own conscience; that all these absurdities . . . should accumulate on himself—this is what prostrated him.” (BOOK FOUR GET PG NUMBER) Javert is confused after he realizes Valjean’s morals and intentions. He struggles to understand how a straightforward, literal interpretation of the law can be at odds with the spirit of the law. Jean Valjean makes it completely impossible for Javert to continue to enforce the law and continue his duty by disarming him through unconditional love, compassion, and mercy. “Javert was an eye always fixed on Monsieur Madeleine; an eye full of suspicion and conjecture.” (57) No matter how much people worship Monsieur Madeleine and how much he has done to
help the citizens of M—sur M—, Javert has suspicion and curiosity built upon him. Javert is a figurehead of the words of law, not its spirit. Javert is truly pitiless. He is staunch and strong, devout and unmovable. His heart might tremble, but still it is stone, and always will be stone. He will not follow the trends of society, as his mind is uneducated in the ways of morals and values, and is unable to comprehend it when it comes to placing it next to the law. Overall, Javert has achieved no development throughout the story, for he will not let this unknown sense of morals enter between law enforcement, expressing his stubborn principles and ethics.