Jean Valjean is the protagonist of Victor Hugo’s famous novel Les Miserables. This is one of the most powerful works that have become classics in the world of literature. Jean Valjean is not just an interesting artistic character, he has several real prototypes.
Who is Jean Valjean
In Hugo’s novel, Jean Valjean is a former criminal convicted for stealing bread. He was born in 1769 in the French commune of Favrolet. After his parents passed away, he was sheltered by his older sister Jeanne.
After the death of her husband, Jeanne, her entire family is on the verge of death from hunger. For the sake of his sister and seven nephews, Jean decides to commit a crime and steals a loaf of bread. As a result, he was caught and sentenced to 5 years. Jean made four unsuccessful escape attempts, for this and resistance to the authorities, he increased the prison term by another 14 years.
Jean served 19 years behind bars. After his release, he was given a passport with a note that the owner of the document was in custody. The presence of a "yellow" passport did not allow you to freely move around the world and independently choose their place of residence. Authorities sent Jean Valjean to Pontarlier.
Valjean's internal throwing and self-gain
The long years spent in custody made Jean an outcast. Society did not want to accept such people, and Jean himself felt detached from the real world.
Acquaintance with Bishop Miriel becomes fateful and changes the worldview of Valjean. Despite all the negative circumstances, the bishop reacted to Jean humanly and with compassion.
He did not expose and extradite the former police prisoner for the theft of family silver, but said that he himself had given it to Jean. Such an act of the bishop made Valjean repent, and he decided to start his life anew.
The character and inner essence of Jean Valjean is more clearly revealed by comparing it with another character - Inspector Javert.
This detective is a zealous servant of the law who stubbornly follows former prisoner Vazhan. Javert came from the lower strata of society. He was the son of a fortuneteller who gave birth to him while in prison.
Despite its origin, Javert became a representative of the law and rose to the rank of police inspector.
Acquaintance with Valjean occurred in Toulon, where Javert worked as an overseer. According to the plot, Javert pursues Jean, leads a real hunt for a former prisoner. As a result of many events, Valjean saves the inspector obsessed with the idea of reprisal, thereby changing his worldview and moral priorities.
