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The Importance of Forgiving Others: A Lesson from Les Miserables

1. Introduction:

Les Miserables is a movie adapted from the famous novel titled; Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. This movie is about the adult life of an ex-convict punished for stealing bread. Les Miserables was first published in French in 1862. It has been translated into many languages and is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. The movie was released in 2012 and was directed by Tom Hooper. The movie stars Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Amanda Seyfried.

2. Les Miserables – A Movie Review:

The movie starts with Jean Valjean (Hugh Jackman) being released from prison after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. He is told by the bishop Myriel (Christopher Eccleston) that he is a good man and should start afresh. Valjean decides to break his parole and start a new life under a new name. He becomes mayor of a town called Montreuil-sur-Mer and lives a comfortable life until Javert (Russell Crowe), a police inspector who had been tracking him down, arrives in town. Valjean narrowly escapes and Javert vows to find him again.

Valjean comes across Fantine (Anne Hathaway), a single mother who is forced to prostitute herself to support her daughter Cosette (Isabelle Allen). Valjean promises to take care of Cosette and takes her away from Fantine, who dies soon afterwards. Valjean and Cosette flee from Javert but are caught by a group of students during the June Rebellion. They are saved by Marius Pontmercy (Eddie Redmayne), a student rebel leader, and Valjean manages to escape with Cosette again.

Javert eventually catches up to Valjean but instead of turning him in, he kills himself. Valjean then takes Cosette to live with him in Paris and they live happily ever after.

The movie ends with a voiceover by Valjean, saying that he has lived a long life since then and has done many things, both good and bad. But he has never forgotten his promise to Fantine and will always protect Cosette.

3. The Journal Entry:

Today is my first day out of jail after serving 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. I must say that I am disappointed with the way people have treated me since then. I was hoping that they would see me as a changed man but it seems like they haven’t changed their attitude towards me one bit.

I can understand why they treat me this way though; I was nothing but trouble ever since I was born. My father died when I was very young and my mother could not afford to take care of me so she sent me to live with my grandparents. But they were poor too and could not really take care of me so I ended up on the streets soon enough.

I have always been hungry; it seems like there was never enough food to go around when I was growing up. So when I saw that loaf of bread, I just couldn’t help myself; I had to steal it even though I knew that it would land me in jail for sure.

And that’s exactly what happened. I was caught and sent to prison. It was there that I met the bishop Myriel and he changed my life. He showed me that there was more to life than just getting by; that I could be a good person if I tried.

So I decided to start afresh when I was released from prison. I changed my name and started a new life in Montreuil-sur-Mer. I even became the mayor of the town! But my past always haunted me and eventually Javert, the police inspector who had been tracking me down, arrived in town.

I narrowly escaped but Javert vowed to find me again. And he did; I was caught by a group of students during the June Rebellion but luckily, I was saved by Marius Pontmercy, a student rebel leader. Valjean then takes Cosette to live with him in Paris and they live happily ever after.

But even though I have been given a second chance at life, I can’t help but feel disappointed with the way people have treated me. Surely they must see that I am not the same person that I was 19 years ago? But it seems like they haven’t changed their attitude towards me one bit.

4. Conclusion:

It is disappointing how people can’t seem to forget about our past and move on. Jean Valjean has changed his ways and is now a good person but people just can’t seem to forgive him for his past mistakes. Surely they must see that he is not the same person that he was 19 years ago?

FAQ

Jean Valjean's journal entry reflects his life experiences in that it describes his journey from being a poor, uneducated man to becoming a successful businessman. It also details his struggles with the law and how he has been able to help others despite his criminal record.

The theme reflected in Jean Valjean's journal entry is one of hope and determination. Despite all of the obstacles he has faced in his life, Jean Valjean has never given up on himself or on others. He has always tried to help those less fortunate than himself, and this has led him to be a successful person.

The author uses literary devices such as foreshadowing and symbolism to convey this theme. For example, the fact that Jean Valjean hides his true identity by using a false name (Monsieur Madeleine) foreshadows the event when he will have to flee from the police after being discovered as a former convict. Additionally, the author uses symbols such as light and darkness to represent good and evil, respectively. This is seen when Jean Valjean first steals the silver from the bishop's house; he is described as being in "the shadow of evil" but then sees "a ray of light" when he decides to return the silver out of guilt.

Some of the major events that occur in Jean Valjean's life include: -He is arrested for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family -He spends 19 years in prison for this crime -He escapes from prison and is pursued by Inspector Javert -He meets Fantine and promises to care for her daughter Cosette -He saves a man's life during a factory fire, which leads him to be mistaken for Monsieur Madeleine -He becomes mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer

These events shape or change Jean Valjean because they cause him to reflect on his own life and realize that there is more to life than just surviving day by day. They also teach him about compassion and forgiveness, two qualities that are essential in helping others achieve success themselves.

The journal entry foreshadows future events in Les Miserables in that it sets up the conflict between Jean Valjean and Inspector Javert. Additionally, the fact that Jean Valjean is able to help others despite his criminal past foreshadows his eventual redemption.

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Free Essay Samples (March 23, 2023) The Importance of Forgiving Others: A Lesson from Les Miserables. Retrieved from https://essayholic.com/the-importance-of-forgiving-others-a-lesson-from-les-miserables/.
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"The Importance of Forgiving Others: A Lesson from Les Miserables." Free Essay Samples - Accessed March 23, 2023. https://essayholic.com/the-importance-of-forgiving-others-a-lesson-from-les-miserables/
"The Importance of Forgiving Others: A Lesson from Les Miserables." Free Essay Samples [Online]. Available: https://essayholic.com/the-importance-of-forgiving-others-a-lesson-from-les-miserables/. [Accessed: March 23, 2023]

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