Les Misérables Published 1862 I | | INTRODUCTION | When Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables first came out in 1862‚ people in Paris and elsewhere lined up to buy it. Although critics were less receptive‚ the novel was an instant popular success. The French word “misérables” means both poor wretches and scoundrels or villains. The novel offers a huge cast that includes both kinds of “misérables.” A product of France’s most prominent Romantic writer‚ Les Misérables ranges far and wide. It paints
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Jacob Crandall November 21‚ 2011 Comp II Les Miserables: A Summary Imagine a world where your legal system is so unjust‚ you would be sent to prison for 20 years for stealing an single apple. This is the world of Jean Valjean in the adaption of Victor Hugo’s classic play‚ Les Miserables. This story is set during the early 18th century in France‚ and the story is full of sociological issues‚ some of which are still prevalent in our society today. The first major sociological issue that
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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
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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
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The longest running and arguably the most powerful musical production to have ever hit the stage‚ Les Miserables has been seen by over 60 million people in 42 different countries across the globe. Since its opening night at the Barbican Theatre on October 8‚ 1985‚ it has captured the hearts of many as it continues to break box-office records even in its 28th year. The story revolves around an ex-convict named Jean Valjean who broke his parole and is from then on pursued by a constabulary named
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Business Ethics – Les Miserables Analysis When faced with concepts like crime and punishment‚ there is a majority of people who would claim that the law must be obeyed under all circumstances‚ without any exception. It would actually be quite difficult to find someone who openly stated beliefs that criminals should sometimes get away with crime instead of being brought to justice. The character of Javert in Les Miserables is a classic example of an absolutist who believes in the supreme power of
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Hannah Kent‚ in Burial Rites and Billie August in Les Miserables explore a variety of injustices as a product of prejudice by revealing the flaws of their Nineteenth Century social system. Although Kent released her novel in the 21st century‚ she thoroughly presents Nineteenth Century Iceland in all its formidable culture of prejudice and hardship to the same extent that August explores Nineteenth Century France in Les Miserables. Though both authors propose that one’s preconception of another rests
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Claudia Lara Burke English 11 Nov. 27‚ 2009 Fatal Flaw In the film Les Miserables‚ Jean Valjean is a hero because he often sacrifices himself in order to be fair and to protect his loved ones. Valjean‚ a reformed convict‚ sacrifices himself and gives up his freedom after a long period of his life time hiding from Javert‚ because he would never let an injustice occur. Javert an inspector from
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times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”(Albert Schweitzer) In both of the novels Les Miserables and Jane Eyre‚ there were characters who sparked ideas and philosophies for the others in the story‚ as well as the sparking ideas for the reader. In Jane Eyre‚ one of the most influential characters in the whole stories was Helen Burns‚ and in Les Miserables an important
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In Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserable’s‚ one character plays a part in each of the other character’s lives. Cosette‚ a little girl‚ is created to develop the rest of the “miserables” throughout the book. Fantine‚ Cosette’s mother‚ digs herself into the shameless lifestyle of prostitution and poverty‚ while trying to support Cosette. The Thenardiers become her home while her mother leaves in search for work. There‚ Cosette is used to clean and work. Through Cosette‚ the Thenardier’s are shown as they
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