Download Character Analysis: Les Miserables by Victor Hugo and more Study notes Law in PDF only on Docsity! Les Miserables Character Breakdown Jean Valjean Male, 40s-50s. An ex-con and Cosette’s adopted father. Valjean leaves behind a life of hatred and deceit for a life of humility and compassion. He finds fulfillment in protecting his adopted daughter and helping people who are in difficult situations, even when it means risking his own life and welfare. His life is a quest for redemption. Javert Male, 40s-50s. A police inspector who strictly believes in law and order and will stop at nothing to hunt down and capture Valjean. Javert is incapable of compassion or pity, and performs his work with such passion that he takes on a nearly animal quality when he is on the chase. Fantine Female, 20s-30s. beautiful young woman; abandoned by her lover, is left to fend for herself and her daughter Cosette. She is a noble and proud character, whose life becomes a series of terrible events that rob her of her pride, character, and ultimately her life. Cosette Female, late teens-20s. beautiful, educated young woman. Fantine’s daughter who lives as Valjean’s adopted daughter after her mother dies. She finds fulfillment in her love for Marius. Cosette is innocent and docile, but her participation in Valjean’s many escapes from the law show that she also possesses intelligence and bravery. Eponine Female, late teens–20s. beautiful, lost, tortured young woman. The Thénardiers’ eldest daughter, Eponine is a wretched creature who helps her parents steal, but she is eventually redeemed by her love for Marius. She proves that no one is beyond redemption, and she ultimately emerges as one of the novel’s most tragic and heroic figures. Marius Male, 20s-30s. handsome romantic hero. Innocent, impulsive, awkward, and naïve, but matures after the barricade. A young man capable of great things. Enjorlas Male, 20s-40s. Handsome, brave, daring, mature. Enjolras is the leader of the radical student revolution. He is both wild and beautiful. Dominating presence. Thenardier Male, 30s-50s. A thief, grave robber, scoundrel, and innkeeper. A cruel, wretched, money-obsessed man who first appears as Cosette’s keeper and tormentor. Full of dark humor, Thénardier extorts money from whomever he can and he has strong ties to the criminal underworld in Paris. Madame Thenardier Female, 20s-40s. M. Thénardier’s wife. , Mme. Thénardier is just as evil as her husband and takes special pleasure in abusing Cosette. In later years, she becomes her husband’s most devoted accomplice and is particularly enthusiastic about his schemes to rob Valjean and Cosette. Bishop of Digne Male, 30s-50s. The bishop of Digne. M. Myriel is a much-admired clergyman whose great kindness, charity, and mercy are the catalyst to Valjean’s spiritual life transformation. Gavroche Male, 9-13. Fierce, brave and loyal. A Paris street urchin, Gavroche leaves home at an early age to fend for himself. He is a happy- go-lucky child who enjoys the small pleasures of life and demonstrates unusual generosity toward those even less fortunate than he is. Young Cosette Female, 7-12. FANTINE's daughter at the age of six who has been living with the Thenardier's since the age of two. Valjean adopts her after Fantine gives Cosette to him on her deathbed. Cosette has spent her
