Jean Valjean, nearly fifty, experiences more in his lifetime than the average man. By Victor Hugo affirming Valjean's age to only around fifty suggests to the reader that Valjean's life-changing experiences are not yet complete. Because he is younger than the reader expects, Valjean's physique resides along with his age helping him in various scenarios.
Over the course of a year, Valjean's body ages to his actual age of eighty years; his strength vamooses him as he prepares for his demise. Despite living an entirely filled life, Valjean still suffers internal turmoil as he is unable to forgive himself for his past revealing his stature as a literary Christ figure. Valjean, like Christ, accepts the certitude that he dies under God's good …show more content…
This proves Victor Hugo's point that forgiveness has a stronger effect on those undergoing a reformation than punishment does.
Jean Valjean and Cosette experience a disconnection as Cosette grows older and more beautiful. Jean Valjean is not ready to let go of the child Cosette who has been completely dependent on him. Valjean's inability to let go of Cosette portrays his immense love for her; he does not want her to suffer. In this over-protecting love, Cosette is hurt by being retained and Valjean is hurt by the unhappiness of his daughter thus creating a stressful relationship.
Valjean, a devout Christian, is saved in two houses of God: the first being the Bishop's palace and the second being the convent of Petit Picpus. Valjean takes both of these salvations and embraces the man God calls him to be. This reveals that Valjean is willing to look as a demon in the eyes of men in order to be an angel in the eyes of God. For Valjean, as long as God is pleased with his life, Valjean is …show more content…
It is, however, ironic that the very thing most girls find exciting and grand, Valjean finds disappointing and dreary. This signifies that as Cosette is maturing, Jean Valjean experiences his biggest letdown thus far; he realizes that he and Cosette may not be together forever. For him, without Cosette he has no purpose.
Javert hunts Jean Valjean for the majority of the novel because he is unwilling to forgive the mistakes Jean Valjean makes. However, Valjean greets Javert with forgiveness and acceptance by letting Javert go unharmed. This shows that Valjean's mild temper when confronting those who have wronged him despite Javert treating Valjean with anything less than compassion.
After stealing from Petit Gervais, Valjean seeks to change his approach to life; he feels obliged to give back to those who have less than him by always carrying varied amounts of money with him. He does this not only because of his good heart, but because he feels the need to continue to punish himself signifying that Valjean has not forgiven himself and still views himself as a good-for-nothing criminal. Overall, Valjean's attitude towards life is a positive one despite his poor
Over the course of a year, Valjean's body ages to his actual age of eighty years; his strength vamooses him as he prepares for his demise. Despite living an entirely filled life, Valjean still suffers internal turmoil as he is unable to forgive himself for his past revealing his stature as a literary Christ figure. Valjean, like Christ, accepts the certitude that he dies under God's good …show more content…
This proves Victor Hugo's point that forgiveness has a stronger effect on those undergoing a reformation than punishment does.
Jean Valjean and Cosette experience a disconnection as Cosette grows older and more beautiful. Jean Valjean is not ready to let go of the child Cosette who has been completely dependent on him. Valjean's inability to let go of Cosette portrays his immense love for her; he does not want her to suffer. In this over-protecting love, Cosette is hurt by being retained and Valjean is hurt by the unhappiness of his daughter thus creating a stressful relationship.
Valjean, a devout Christian, is saved in two houses of God: the first being the Bishop's palace and the second being the convent of Petit Picpus. Valjean takes both of these salvations and embraces the man God calls him to be. This reveals that Valjean is willing to look as a demon in the eyes of men in order to be an angel in the eyes of God. For Valjean, as long as God is pleased with his life, Valjean is …show more content…
It is, however, ironic that the very thing most girls find exciting and grand, Valjean finds disappointing and dreary. This signifies that as Cosette is maturing, Jean Valjean experiences his biggest letdown thus far; he realizes that he and Cosette may not be together forever. For him, without Cosette he has no purpose.
Javert hunts Jean Valjean for the majority of the novel because he is unwilling to forgive the mistakes Jean Valjean makes. However, Valjean greets Javert with forgiveness and acceptance by letting Javert go unharmed. This shows that Valjean's mild temper when confronting those who have wronged him despite Javert treating Valjean with anything less than compassion.
After stealing from Petit Gervais, Valjean seeks to change his approach to life; he feels obliged to give back to those who have less than him by always carrying varied amounts of money with him. He does this not only because of his good heart, but because he feels the need to continue to punish himself signifying that Valjean has not forgiven himself and still views himself as a good-for-nothing criminal. Overall, Valjean's attitude towards life is a positive one despite his poor