The Secret Life Of Jean Valjean Essay

To begin with Jean is shown being mistreated by society in many different ways throughout the story. As the story said, Jean Valjean is an ex-convict who was in originally for 19 years and then for life. He escaped to live with cosette and no one knew his identity. When Jean Valjean is in some bad times he realizes that his life was not very good. Jean says “This world which had always hated me/ Take and eye for an eye” (Kretzmer “Jean Valjean’s Soliloquy” 29-30). He is not treated very well in society and he really wants people to know that the system is corrupt and broken. Just because of his background he cannot be seen in public where someone may recognize him as a convict like Javert did. People like Javert misjudge Jean and think of him as a criminal and violent guy. However, Jean shows to Javert that …show more content…
People nowadays think that way aswell. It is like when police pull you over and see you have no tickets they will sometimes let you off with a warning. although on the other side if you have had many speeding tickets in the past they may just write you a ticket. People today get misjudged and mistreated on not only background but also the way they may look. Jean Valjean was mistreated by society when he was getting turned away from all the Inns at the start of the novel. Jean is talking to a civilian of whom he is asking to rest there and “The embarrassment of the stranger increased; he stammered: “they didn’t take me either”” (Hugo 10). He is not being accepted by anyone because they have heard that he is from the galleys. This happens today if you are know to have done something bad then it may affect how people treat you in society. People like Jean get misjudged based on their past and not how it all happened. Jean was in the galleys because he was trying to steal bread to feed his hungry sisters children. He was doing it for the children’s good to get them something to