Is Jean Valjean selfish? Some people who read Les Miserables, written by Victor Hugo, might see Jean Valjean as a selfish character. Why? Because they think he is doing everything to make sure that Cosette is staying with him forever. They also think that he is a selfish person because he is not letting Cosette explore everything that life has to offer.
He is such a remarkable character distinct to other people we met in our daily undertakings. He’s exceptional and one of a kind. It also dwells with the supernatural power of love, the love to give up one’s freedom for the sake of justice. It is also quite romantic especially on the part of the love affair of Marius and Cosette that tickles your bones. However, it is more on being a melodrama, that let your heart cry out specially on the ending part where it is shown how noble Jean was in his lifetime upon his deathbed.
One reason people may disagree is because they may be the type that lies a lot and lying may not seem like a huge deal to them, so they may think Decius is in the right for what he did. A second reason is that people may think laughing at somebody is not an ample deal, and Decius was in the right for making fun of someone. They may find laughing at someone as more humorous rather than a type of bullying or sign of disrespect. A third reason is that Decius lying to Caesar and not telling him of the dangers may not be seen as murder by other people, and therefore they would not consider it as making him the least honorable character. People may also think that Caesar deserved to be killed and Decius was actually in the right for tricking him and not telling him of the dangers that awaited him.
Why save someone while ruining the lives of multiple others? It’s a simple question which is presented every time Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. It’s unfortunate, however, that Jean Valjean didn’t think his decisions all the way through, particularly the decision to save Champmathieu. Jean Valjean made the wrong decision when he went to the court to save Champmathieu because he ruined the lives of factory workers, is unable to help the common folk, and put his life on the line for someone who couldn’t give much back to society. In both the theatrical and literary version, Jean Valjean explains how much these factory workers depend on him to live and provide for their family.
Les Miserables, a movie produced by Columbia Pictures and written by Victor Hugo, stars Liam Neeson, and Geoffrey Rush. During this movie and throughout the book the antagonist, Valjean, appears as a caring, and selfless man, who loves others and puts them first. Valjean wasn’t always an outstanding man. During his life, Valjean withstood many hardships and difficulties, putting his morals to the test. Liam Neeson does a great job showing the passion of Valjean for Cosette, Fantine, his work, and for others.
Self-absorption and greed similarly disfigure the hearts and minds of the people in the story. The Marquis St. Evrémonde, who is attractive changes to look treacherous and cruel. He represents all that is evil in the French aristocracy. If the aristocracy does not care about God or about finding meaning in their lives, then they definitely do not care for the lives of the lower classes. “The leprosy of unreality disfigured every human creature in attendance upon Monseigneur.
Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables tries to explore the effects of different moral philosophies. In the first part of the novel, it mainly deals with Hedonistic and Utilitarian views, focusing on how they have affected two main characters: Fantine and Jean Valjean, respectively. Both were cast away into the lowest reaches of society, but were exposed to different moral philosophies by the people around them. Those morals shaped the path they took in their lives, and the decisions they have made since then. Jean Valjean was imprisoned for 19 years, constantly belittled by those around him as well as those in positions of authority.
Characters are affected by their decisions because of their lust for reputation. The play, Julius Caesar, makes of honor as accepting self-responsibility and wrongdoing towards Brutus, Portia, and Antony’s actions, intentions, and values. Marcus Brutus was a close colleague of Julius Caesar, who had recently risen in power after killing Pompey. In Act 1, Scene 2, Brutus is
At this point, viewers meet Marius, Enjolras, and their fellow student rebels who attempt to draw all of Paris—including Valjean and Cosette—into their stand against the injustices imposed by the monarchy. In addition to its moving and engaging plot, Les Misérables offers beautifully performed solos and choral pieces throughout the film. This version of Les Misérables differs significantly from most other cinematic musicals because the director, Tom Hooper, chose to have all the actors sing their parts live—during filming—as opposed to prerecording the songs and having actors lip-sync their parts. Although this feature may not please all viewers, I found the result to be very powerful. My favorite solo was Anne Hathaway’s commanding rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream,” a performance that contributed to her first
Of all French Romantics, none is so well-known, nor as heavily-worded, as Victor Hugo. Hugo is responsible for such classics as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Misérables. From its first printing, Les Misérables has received praise for its political commentary, colorful phrasing, and most notably, its characters. Given its reception, it is no surprise that the book has spawned several adaptations for both film and stage, most famously the film adaptation in 1998 by Columbia Pictures. In any adaptation of a book with such strong characters, casting is critical, especially in regards to the protagonist and antagonist; Jean Valjean and Monsieur Javert, respectively.