Figure Profile— Javert

        Hello, readers! Last week I’ve just finished my article about the most important figure, Jean Valjean; then today I’m going to introduce another key role, which is my favorite one, inspector Javert.

        Generally, Javert is referred to as the main villain of the story, due to his ceaseless persistence in bringing Jean Valjean to justice and stern treatment toward those who ‘commit a crime,’ Javert is sort of depicted as a man of cruelty, lacking sympathy and compassion. In the songs Prologue: Work Song, and Fantine’s Arrest, Javert explicitly shows his thorough distrust against the guilty, whether they are framed or not; hence, to most audiences, he seems to be rather unreasonable and partial to those in power in this respect.

(start from 2:07 to 4:14)

        However, it is not until the story develops to The Confrontation of both sides, that we can look into the deeper aspects of his background and personality. In fact, Javert is no other than those miserable people; he has a despicable past as well, yet rather than becoming corrupt and rotten, the humble background molds him into an upright man, with relentless pursuit for perfect discipline. He’ll never allow anyone violating the principles, including himself, which is manifest in his solo, Stars. Through his soliloquy, Javert conveys his fearless and determination; by the witness of the stars, he swears his life and commitment to complete devotion.

Song lyrics: The Confrontation

        During the revolution, he infiltrates into the student party and tries to crumble them down from inside; however, his identity is seen through and thus he is captured, waiting for execution. However, unexpected, he is saved and freed by his greatest enemy, Jean Valjean, without any cost or bargains. Javert is astounded, broken down, and confused, along with his outlook on life and value scattered into debris. Everything once he thought was wrong seems right, and the man once he considered evil now becomes a saint; his life together with the order he sticks to are totally subverted and mess up. Unable to tackle the overwhelming sense of guilt, Javert resorts to suicide at last.

        Javert is a man who lives out the true meaning of perfect rectitude and rigid self-regulating, though it leads to the drawback of being narrow-minded and stubborn, resulting in his tragic end, his persistence, his responsibility, his courage and his determination are fairly impressive as well as admirable.

Figure Profile— Jean Valjean part 2

The First Attack, Bring Him Home & Finale— Complete Relief

 After the trial, Jean Valjean takes his flight and flees for freedom; over the years, he has been escaping Javert’s ceaseless hunt, whereas on the other hand endeavoring to form a stable living environment for his adopted daughter Cosette, which is free from hazard and fear, hoping that his beloved one can grow into wholeness and accompany him throughout his rest life. Nevertheless, there are several changes beyond expectation emerging in succession— the thrilling kidnap, Javert’s reappearance, and all the slight chaos leading to the substantial rebellion.

        Jean Valjean is stressed out, burdening great tension; he has once considered avoiding the entire potential crisis and escaping to England, but somehow he stays and joins in the crusade. In the revolution, Jean Valjean encounters his two greatest enemy, inspector Javert and Marius, Cosette’s lover— the one who attempts to deprive of his freedom and the one who intends to take his beloved one away from him. In both confrontations, Jean Valjean holds great dominance and could have killed them initially. However, after witnessing the sufferings of the wretched as well as experiencing a process of meditation, Jean Valjean decides to face his inner conflict, accept his past and present as well as the reality frankly, and finally chooses to forgive and let them be.

        Though it’s not quite happy in his remaining years, since that Marius totally has no idea that Jean Valjean saves him, and even suspects him as a murderer, he has retrieved his spirit from entire grief and misgiving; his soul is released from heavy burden. In the end, Jean Valjean grasps the essence of love and hope, and finally dies in peace.

Song lyrics: The First Attack

Song lyrics: Bring Him Home

Song lyrics: Finale

Figure Profile— Jean Valjean part 1

       Hello readers! Throughout the coming few weeks, I’m going to take you to look into the characters’ journey of life, focusing on their mental aspect in particular.

Today, I’m going to introduce the main role— Jean Valjean, and I’ll pick up some musical songs to assist my introduction. And since Jean Valjean is an important figure in this musical, I’ll divide this profile into two parts.

Valjean’s Soliloquy— Being Forgiven versus Sheer Bewilderment

       After his release, due to the unfair, discrimination and mistreatment throughout his imprisonment, Jean Valjean is such a bitter man that he harbors great grudge against the world. Whereas a bishop chooses to believe in him and forgives all his guilt, telling him that his soul has been brought for god and hoping that he could turn over a new leaf.

        Though astonished by the bishop’s generosity, his surprise is succeeded by utter bewilderment about his outlook on the world. A new insight of life dawns on Jean Valjean; finally he decides to cast out his original identity and starts a new life.

Song lyrics: Valjean forgiven, Valjean's soliloquy

Who Am I— Being Caught in a Double Bind

        Jean Valjean then breaks his parole and lives under an alias. He becomes wealthy, possessing a few craft factories. However, he occasionally knows that the authorities have misidentified someone as ‘the ex-convict Jean Valjean’, and he is then torn as well as caught in a dilemma— should he confess or not? There are hundreds of workers rely on his business to make a living; he can’t abandon his fellow men, and it’s surely obligatory for him to stay. Whereas he won’t forgive himself for condemning the unfortunate man to slavery with indifference and pretending not to know his agony, and thus he decides to reveal his true identity to save the innocent man.

Song lyrics: Who am I

All the video clips and lyrics are found from the Internet

Brief Synopsis of the Story

Hi, guys! Last week I’ve introduced the development of the Les Mis musical, and I hope that did intrigue you. Today I’m going to give you an outline of the story, which may be a good guidance for you to a deeper understanding of this musical.

This story is set in 19^th century France, when the extreme wealth inequality prevails throughout the nation, and the society was dominated by selfishness, greed, and prejudice. The lead figure, Jean Valjean, is an ex-convict incarcerated for 19 years just for a trivial crime. In 1815 in Digne, after his release, the ex-convict is treated badly because of his identity. However, a bishop not only gives him a shelter, but forgives all of his guilt, telling him that his life has been spared for god and hoping that he could become an honest man.

Overwhelmed by the bishop’s generosity, a new insight of life dawns on Jean Valjean. Bitterness as well as anger being somehow washed away, he finally can cast out his hatred for the world.

Over the few years, he has led a new life under an alias and become a wealthy factory owner. However, his identity is seen through by the inspector, which forces him to start a life of fugitive. Afterward Jean Valjean adopts a chronically abused child due to his commitment, and constantly contributes to rescue the wretched out of their miseries and sufferings in the years leading to a revolution.

The revolution, schemed out mainly by a party of students harboring lofty ideals, is an act of anger and resistance to the corrupt Orléanist government, and a symbol of people standing up for their rights as well. During the rebellion, Jean Valjean confronts his greatest enemy, inspector Javert, who’s being confined at the moment; Jean Valjean decided to do the same as what he has granted from the generous bishop—forgiving. Though eventually the government declares its prevailing victory over the rebels, the spirits of aspiring youth will live on, and ‘the blood of the martyrs will water the meadow of France’. At last, to all the people submerged in despair and pain, ‘there is a life about to start, when tomorrow comes’!

(All the quotes are cited from the song Do You Hear the People Sing? from Les Mis)