Les Miserables
Throughout peoples lives they will be influenced due to other people and
events. In the book Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, Jean is influenced by three
different people. The first influence on Jean was by the bishop. Another
influence on Jean was Cosette. A third influence on Jean was Javert. These
influences can all be related to influences in my life.
The bishop’s
influence on Jean relates to my life and the way my grandfather has influenced
me. The bishop was one of Jeans first and most important influences involving
kindness and forgiveness. The first way that the bishop shows kindness to Jean
is by inviting him into his home for dinner and a place to sleep, even though he
is an ex-convict and no one else would help him. The next and most powerful act
of kindness and forgiveness that the bishop shows to Jean is, when he tells the
police that the silver which Jean had actually stole was a gift, and that he had
forgotten to take his gift of candlesticks. When the bishop says, "Ah there you
are! I am glad to see you, but I gave you the candlesticks too, which are also
silver and will bring you two hundred francs"(1/24). When the bishop say’s this,
Jean is filled with surprise and disbelief, and did not know what to do. From
that day on Jean would remember the bishop and his kindness towards him, and use
this memory to help others who where poor.
A person in my life who has
influenced me in a way that relates to the way that the bishop influenced Jean
is my grandfather. One way that my grandfather has influenced me is by buying me
a car on my sixteenth birthday even though I hadn’t asked him for it. Another
way that my grandfather has been an influence in my life is by helping me make
important decisions throughout my life. The last and most important influence
that my grandfather has had on me is by taking me into his house and raising me
like I was his own son, when my dad and mom where still to young to raise a
child. These are just a few examples of how my grandfather has influenced my
life. The influences in my life with my grandfather are closely related to the
way the bishop had influenced Jean’s life.
Cosette’s influence on Jean is
directly related to the influence that my mom has on me. Cosette influences Jean
in many different ways throughout the book. One way that she influences Jean is
by is by showing him that she trusts him by going with him when he comes to the
Thenardiers Inn, this showed Jean that he was doing a good thing and that
Cosette would trust him. The second way that Cosette influenced Jean was by
simply loving him and giving him a different reason to live, since he was now
living and doing good for Cosette. The third way that Jean is influenced by
Cosette is by making Marius swear not to tell Cosette, so that she wouldn’t be
torn apart by the bad news. After Jean tells Marius his secrete he says, "if it
had not been for wanting to see her, I should not have made this confession; I
should merely have gone away"(4/293). By saying this Jean is confessing every
thing about his life so that Cosette can be happy wit Marius. These are all ways
that Cosette has had an influence on Jean.
A person in my life who’s
influences on me can be related to Cosettes influence on Jean is my mom. One way
that my mom has influenced me through my life is by giving me someone to love
when I’m mad at my dad or other people in my life. Another way that my mom has
influenced me is by helping me through problems that no one else can help me
with. The last example of an influence on my life by my mom is by trusting me to
places alone or with friends, even though they it could be far away and she
won’t know where exactly I will be. These are all examples of how my mom has
influenced me throughout my life. My mom’s influences on me are similar to the
influences that Cosette has had on Jean.
Javert’s influences on Jean can
be related to the influences my dad has had on me. Javert has many different
types of influences on Jean. One way that Javert influences Jean is by sending
him to the galleys for the first time even though he was just stealing to feed
his family. Jean was turned cold and cruel by this, he thought that the whole
world was as cruel as Javert seemed to be. This cruelty only leads Jean into
more trouble. The second way that Javert influences Jean is by testing Jeans new
side of kindness and gratitude by sending him to the galleys a second time, for
saving a wrongfully accused man. The last and most unexpected influence that
Javert has on Jean is by letting Jean go free, even though it will tear him up
inside and he could no longer be an officer of the law. Jean shows that he
understood what Javert was going through by saying, "Even an officer with great
power as an officer can crack when giving something that he dosent’t
understand"(3/148). By saying this Jean shows that he is thankful for what
Javert has done for him. These are all ways that Javert has influenced Jean
throughout his life.
An individual in my life who has influenced me in
the same way that Javert has influenced Jean is my dad. When ever I do something
wrong and my dad punishes me for it, I am always mad at him and argue about the
punishment, even though I know he is doing it for my own good, so I will learn a
lesson. Another example of how my dad has influenced my is by not always
allowing me to do stuff with my friends because he wants to go somewhere
together, I never like the idea, but he has taught me that it is important to
spend time with your family as well as your friends. The last and most
surprising influence that my dad has had on my life is, when I wrecked my car,
he told me that he wasn’t mad just glad that I wasn’t hurt. These are all ways
that my dad has influenced me throughout my life. The influences that my dad has
had on me and the influences that Javert has had on Jean both turn out to be
similar.
During the book Les Miserables, you notice that influence plays
a significant role in the way people, in this case Jean Valjean acts. Throughout
your own life you can find individuals who have influenced you just as
characters from the book influenced Jean.
Hugo, Victor. Les
Miserables.
Ed. Grace Benscoter, Trans. Mabel Podge
Holmes.
Chicago: Laidlaw Brothers, 1945.