How Does Jean Valjean Change
Cosette Paper
In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean is transformed many times throughout the story; he is reincarnated when being forced to face bad situations that occur and turn his life around. Despite his struggles, Valjean finds love and hope in a little girl named Cosette. Valjean changes himself so that he can provide a good life for Cosette. Cosette and Valjean learn to live together and support each other through their struggles despite the pain the Thenardiers have brought them. Although Jean Valjean and Cosette are regenerated throughout the novel Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, the Thenardiers are never regenerated because they choose the path of evil instead of the right path. Jean Valjean makes several attempts to restart his life through physical means. At the time, Jean Valjean was an inmate in prison who had been dispatched to work on a boat. A man from a nearby ship is falling, and Valjean jumps to save him. …show more content…
He pays the Thenardiers 1500 francs for Cosette. This is over the original amount that Fantine owed them. After the debt is paid, Cosette is free to live with Jean Valjean. He has to switch from thinking about prison escapes and police chases to dolls and children. He undergoes a metamorphosis when he learns to open up and love Cosette. He says that, “When he saw Cosette, when he had rescued her, he felt his heart move again. Everything within him, all feeling and affection, was aroused and poured out on this child” (Hugo 436). Valjean has to readjust his lifestyle so that he can provide happiness and love to this little girl. He has a new mindset that Cosette is completing his life. This is why he is angered when the Thenardiers want to buy Cosette back. Valjean shows them the proof that Cosette really belongs to him and Fantine. This evidence proves that Cosette is his responsibility. After overcoming this last obstacle, they are able to leave the cruelty behind
In Les Miserables, Jean Valjean is transformed many times throughout the story; he is reincarnated when being forced to face bad situations that occur and turn his life around. Despite his struggles, Valjean finds love and hope in a little girl named Cosette. Valjean changes himself so that he can provide a good life for Cosette. Cosette and Valjean learn to live together and support each other through their struggles despite the pain the Thenardiers have brought them. Although Jean Valjean and Cosette are regenerated throughout the novel Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, the Thenardiers are never regenerated because they choose the path of evil instead of the right path. Jean Valjean makes several attempts to restart his life through physical means. At the time, Jean Valjean was an inmate in prison who had been dispatched to work on a boat. A man from a nearby ship is falling, and Valjean jumps to save him. …show more content…
He pays the Thenardiers 1500 francs for Cosette. This is over the original amount that Fantine owed them. After the debt is paid, Cosette is free to live with Jean Valjean. He has to switch from thinking about prison escapes and police chases to dolls and children. He undergoes a metamorphosis when he learns to open up and love Cosette. He says that, “When he saw Cosette, when he had rescued her, he felt his heart move again. Everything within him, all feeling and affection, was aroused and poured out on this child” (Hugo 436). Valjean has to readjust his lifestyle so that he can provide happiness and love to this little girl. He has a new mindset that Cosette is completing his life. This is why he is angered when the Thenardiers want to buy Cosette back. Valjean shows them the proof that Cosette really belongs to him and Fantine. This evidence proves that Cosette is his responsibility. After overcoming this last obstacle, they are able to leave the cruelty behind