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Luis Lobos
Dr. Griffin
English 12
11 April 2014
Why is les Miserables still useful?
Les Miserables is useful because Jean Valjean used his second chance to become a better
man. He was in jail for nineteen years and there was no hope for him. The least expected person
forgives him, a priest.
Jean Valjean gets a second chance from the priest. He is forgiven with the condition of
becoming a new man. The priest says, It is your soul that I am buying for you (Hugo 33). Jean
Valjean changes by helping people throughout his life. Jean Valjean is portrayed as a criminal in
society, but he repents and begins to purify his soul through peace and love. In his journey, he
becomes rich as a mayor and he gives part of his wealth to the less fortunate. He becomes
content by finding love through Cosset.
Jean Valjean finds meaning to his life through the love for Cosset. Something new was
entering his soul (Hugo 123). Jean Valjean used his second chance to make Cossets life better.
Cossets mother died. This left Cosset alone to suffer in the outside world. The protagonist saved
Cosset and took her in his care to raise her as his child. This exemplifies his repentance because
he made a poor girls life better. If the priest had not given Jean Valjean a second chance, he
wouldnt have saved the little girls life. Fortunately, the protagonist learned from his mistakes,
which in the long run, made him a better father.
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Works Cited
Hugo, Victor. Les Miserables. New York: The Random House Publishing Group, 1961 Print.