Les Miserables

Title: Les Miserables

Genre: Historical Fiction
Characters:

Jean Valjean
 a Frenchman released from prison after 19 years of imprisonment for stealing bread and failed attempts at escaping from the prison

Javert 
The inspector of police who’s lifelong ambition is to put Valjean back behind bars. 

Fantine 
struggling factory worker and mother of a child, Cosette. Became a prostitute just to send money for Cosette.

Cosette 
The child of Fantine whom Valjean raises as his own daughter. 

Marius 
 A student revolutionary who is friends with the Thenardiers' daughter, Éponine, but falls in love with Cosette.

Eponine 
Daughter to Thenardier and a had a secret love for Marius.

Thenardiers  
A couple who abuse Cosette, owner of an Inn where they cheat and steal things from their customers.

Enjolras

The leader of the revolution and a friend of marius.

Gavroche

Youngest son of the Thenardier who lives in the streets.

Bishop Myriel

The Bishop of Digne who comforts Valjean and even saved him from imprisonment after he steals silvers during the night.

Setting:

France in the year 1789-1848
Plot:  

The story started in the year 1815 when a convict Jean Valjean is released on parole by prison guard Javert after serving a nineteen-year sentence by stealing bread for her sister’s son. Valjean is driven out of every town, because of his paroled status. He was offered food and shelter by the Bishop of Digne but steals his silvers during the night and left the convent. He is caught by the authorities, but the Bishop informs them that the silver was given as a gift, and then said that he forgets something, it is the Candle stick and authorities release him instead. After that scene Valjean came to realize how the Bishop treats him and then finds himself saying that he must change and then tore his papers.

Eight years later, Valjean has become a factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. Fantine, one of his workers, is discovered to be sending money to her daughter, Cosette who lives with the unscrupulous Thenardier and their daughter Eponine. In a desperate attempt to support her daughter, Fantine sells her beautiful long hair, her front tooth and became a prostitute. Then one day she is arrested by Javert after she attacks an abusive man who rubs her breast with snow and she accidentally slapped his face, but she is saved by Valjean, who sends her to the hospital. Later, Valjean learns that a man believed to be him has been arrested it is reported by Javert himself. But his conscience condemned him so he reveals himself in the court. He then goes to the dying Fantine at the hospital and Javert follows him there they went to a fight but Valjean escaped away from Javert.  After escaping from Javert, Valjean tries to find Cosette, he found her in the woods alone fetching a pale of water and then together they walk back to the inn. He pays then the Thénardiers to allow him to take her, and promises to be like a father to her.

Nine years later, Lamarque, the only government official sympathetic toward the poor, is nearing death. Students Marius Pontmercy and Enjolras together with Gavroche, discuss revolution. Marius later catches a glimpse of Cosette now a young woman, and instantly falls in love with her. At a café, Enjolras organizes a group of students as Lamarque's death is announced, they would form a revolution. Meanwhile, Éponine now Marius's friend, leads him to Cosette, where the two profess their love for one another. Sad that her secret love for Marius will never be reciprocated, Éponine fatalistically decides to join the revolution. When a gang led by Thenardier attempts to capture Valjean for ransom from Javert, Éponine screams to warn Valjean and Cosette; Valjean decides to flee despite Cosette's desire for Marius. As they leave, Marius sends a farewell letter to Cosette. The next day, the students interrupt Lamarque's funeral procession and begin their revolt. Javert dressed up as a rebel in order to spy on them, but is quickly exposed by Gavroche and captured. During the ensuing gunfight, Éponine saves Marius at the cost of her own life, professing her love to him before she dies in his arms. Valjean, intercepting the letter from Marius to Cosette, goes to the barricade to protect Marius for he knew that Marius would be his last hope to protect Cosette. Then after saving Enjolras from snipers, he is allowed to execute Javert. However, when the two are alone, Valjean frees Javert, telling him to run.

Series of attacks by the soldiers are done and they are no match with them everyone is killed but Marius, who is saved when Valjean drags his unconscious body into the sewers. Thénardier, scavenging the dead bodies, steals Marius's ring. Valjean recovers and escapes the sewers carrying Marius, but is confronted at the exit by Javert. Javert threatens to shoot Valjean if he refuses to surrender, but Valjean ignores him. Unable to reconcile the conflict between his civil and moral duties, two things which he always considered the same, Javert commits suicide by plunging himself into the Seine.

Later, Marius mourns for his friends but Cosette comforts him. Revealing his past to Marius, Valjean tells him he must leave because his presence endangers Cosette, and makes Marius promise never to tell her. Marius and Cosette marry; the Thénardiers crash the reception and testify that they saw Valjean carrying a murdered corpse through the sewers. Thénardier unwittingly shows Marius the ring that he stole from him as "proof." Recognising the ring, Marius realizes that it was Valjean who saved his life. Being told Valjean's location by Thénardier, Marius and Cosette depart to find him.

As Valjean sits dying in a local convent, he perceivess the spirit of Fantine appearing to take him to Heaven. Cosette and Marius rush in to bid farewell. Valjean hands Cosette his confession of his past life, and joins the spirits of Fantine, the Bishop, Enjolras, Éponine, Gavroche, and the other rebels at the barricade.

Theme: 

Personal Change and Transformation

One change for the better, but it depends on the person on how he/she would change his/herself.

Human Rights

          Each of us has the rights as a person and we should not let take that away from us for it is a way to see your worth in the society but also in yourself.

 

Symbolism:

 Every character symbolizes the happenings or the situation that was happening during their time and today as well:

   Jean Valjean represents the poverty and the poor

   Javert represents the abuse of power

  Fantine represents prostitution

and the Candle stick that Bishop Myriel gave Valjean as a gift. 

1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?

The title means the miserable ones it speaks to the people way back thousand years ago and their struggle to find peace and life contentment. It shows how miserable life it is in their way of living.

2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?

Fantine, a mother of a beautiful child who desperately needs to send money for her daughter she even sell her hair and her tooth and she even engage into prostitution.

I could say that I can relate to her for I am a young mother too and I am willing to do anything for my daughter, I am willing to sacrifice myself just to see her happy and in order for her to achieve her dreams. (But not to the extent of being prostitute though)
3. Which part of the presentation struck you the most? Why?

The part where Valjean read the message of Marius for Cosette he realized then the man Cosette loves was in a battle, he then says that he would find him and save him for he doesn’t want to him to die. I was struck in this part for as a daughter I was surprised how Valjean values the man that Cosette loves. He even finds him to save him from the battle for he knew that Marius would be his hope to protect and love Cosette when he dies. 
4. What is the movie’s message?

The movie says that you must have to FIGHT for yourself and for your rights you should not let anyone steal your rights as a person. DREAM you should not lose them for it would help you to be motivated. HOPE for life is not just about now but about what is about to happen tomorrow and lastly LOVE for it is the most powerful thing that a man could ever had.
5. Did I like this in general? Why?

Yes, for I love the songs that they used to sing, the movie is not the usual movie that we used to watch with some dialogues in it but they sing their dialogues which I find very entertaining you could reflect to the songs and you can really feel the emotions that the characters wants to portray.

6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or why not?

Yes, for the movie really shows the importance of love and compassion toward the viewers. It possesses the true meaning of love and compassion as the story goes on.  
7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?

I like the scene where Valjean sings that he realized that he must change for he is designed to be a good person singing that “another Jean Valjean must begin” and he turns his papers.

I don’t like how the Thenardier treats young Cosette and how they cheat their guests and steals their belongings. And the fact that even young Eponine witnesses how her parents do in order to earn a living.
8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why?

No, for everything is clear and you could understand how the story goes and how it does ends.
9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life?

The story somehow relates to my life by how I manage to change myself as a person, how I became strong after downfalls and how I became a better person as compared to some years ago.