The Themes Of Love In Les Miserables, By Victor Hugo

Generally, authors compose books that go along with the morals of the audience. Many stories are written today include the typical love story; a girl falls in love with a guy or vice versa. Others are action packed with a climax and a predictable ending. Victor Hugo took a different stance while writing his book Les Miserables. Hugo's idea of action is presented through Jean Valjean, who is held in prison for many years because he stole a loaf of bread. He includes unique love stories unlike the typical ones that we read about. Hugo's main purpose is to challenge people to consider their morals on forgiveness and love. While most of the town seems to turn against Jean Valjean after his time in prison, the Bishop continues to forgive him and walks alongside him throughout his journey. Even though Jean Valjean is a convict, the Bishop welcomes him into his home, looks past all that he has done, and calls him monsiuer. This is much different from the others in the town who deny him of services, and disrespect him. Jean Valjean is very surprised that the Bishop talks to him this way because "monsieur to a convict is a glass of water to a man dying of thirst at sea" (19 …show more content…
Hugo includes love in his novel to express the different types and meanings of true love. Marius waits to see Cossette and she does not show up. After going to the garden and realizing Cossette is not there, Marius was devastated. "He sat down upon the steps, his heart full of tenderness and resolution, he blessed his love in the depths of his thought, and he said to himself that since Cosette was gone, there was nothing more for him but to die" (274 Hugo). Marius' love for Cossette is so strong that without her he is incomplete. Cossette often received the short end of the stick while growing up with Eponine and the Thenardiers; however, this is not the case when it comes to winning over Marius'