Blog Post #1 - Significant and Symbolic scene for Jean Valjean

Deandra Butler
Mrs. Molyneux
H English D
28 April 2015


Blog Post #1 - Significant and Symbolic scene for Jean Valjean

In the novel, Les Misérables, Jean Valjean is presented as a prisoner that escaped prison during the French Revolution. As he returns to the town of D---, Valjean is rejected from every inn in the village. Out of complete desperation, the former prisoner knocks on one of the town’s resident’s door and proceeds to ask for food and shelter for the night. At first, the peasant did not refuse Valjean and then soon wonders the reason why the local shelters did not take him in for the night. The rejected man lies and answers that all of the inns were fully stocked, with no room for Valjean. Soon the poor man realizes that the man in front of him was “the man!”(10) and instantly yells at him to get away. Jean Valjean then travels into the woods where he finds a straw bed suitable for a night’s sleep. As soon as he lies down on the bed, Valjean hears a mighty growl; he intruded a dog- kennel! Shortly after, the homeless fellow is rejected from the place of an animal; Valjean runs out of the kennel while screaming “I am not even a dog” (11).

In the beginning of this book, this scene is one of the most significant and symbolic events that occurs to the main character, Jean Valjean. As he returned to D---, he was treated like an animal; he was treated like a dog. His criminal record, indicated by his yellow passport, reminds the townspeople of the hazardous potential Valjean carries everywhere with him. In the town of D---, he is shunned and frowned upon by the townspeople. This scene calls the readers to infer that Valjean is going to have to settle in a different region in order to earn a clean name.

Exploring The Significance of a Particular Setting:  Topic E-

In Les Mis, the setting of Eponine ‘s death is extremely significant because even though the French Revolution is simultaneously happening, nothing ever deviates or stops. This is notable because throughout the book, nothing ever changes for Eponine. Unlike Cosette when she is adopted by Jean Valjean, or Marius , finding and ultimately marrying Cosette, Eponine’s fate never changes. Once the daughter of the Thiendayers’, she was treated like a princess and held over Cosette. When the two grew up, it is obvious that Cosette is living the life Eponine wishes she had. Eponine is in love with Marius. But Marius has an undying love for Eponine. As the love triangle continues to grow, Eponine’s love for Marius is alive all throughout her life. "She loves him" (263). When she is shot at the battleground, Marius pauses time to be make Eponine’s end of life as comfortable as he can. Even though Eponine’s life is considered short, the setting of her death portrays her life.

Cosettes Mistreatment through Imagery (Prompt F)

Annie Pitts
Ms. Molyneaux
English D
May 20, 2014

      As Jean Valjean watches Fantine pass away, he promises to take care of her daughter, Cosette.  As soon as Valjean arrives to take Cosette under his wing he sees a girl wearing "old rags of linen, full of holes."  This girl is Fantine's daughter and Valjean desribes this sight of an emaciated young girl as "a heartbreaking thing, to see this poor child, not yet six years old, shivering in the winter."  The holes in Cosette's rags for clothes represent the holes in her heart yearning for not only a mother figure that treats her better than her foster mother, but also a new start that doesn't include starvation and a lack of stability in her own "home".  This young child does not even know the feeling of love, because her foster parents are so evil to her.  They send her to do chores such as "sweeping the street before daylight, with an enormous broom in her tiny red hands, and a tear in her great eyes."  This quote shows how poorly Cosette was treated before she was rescued by her new father figure Valjean.  Her "tiny red hands" are red because of the brisk cold weather that she is sent to endure chores in and the "tear in her great eyes" shows how miserable she is under these people.  Jean Valjean saves her from this heartbreaking misery when he comes to get her to keep his promise to Fantine.

Evolution of Eponine and Marius's relationship (Prompt C)

Annie Pitts
Ms. Molyneaux
English D
May 20, 2015

      Eponine and Marius have had a complicated relationship since they have known each other.  Marius thinks of Eponine as just a close companion, but Eponine has always wanted more with this hero that she knew deeper than anyone else.  She admires his ambition for the French Revolution, even though his father and him are well off and have no reason to be concerned with the peasant revolution.  Eponine would do anything for Marius, even if that includes helping him fall in love with another girl, Cosette.  It hurts Eponine deeply to see Marius happy with someone else, but at least he is happy.  "To love or have loved is enough," is what Eponine lives by, especially as she is dying in Marius' arm at the barricade.  She loves him, which meant she wishes him the best, and as she is seeing her life pass her, she is happy to have loved even if it isn't mutual.  "No other pearl" would be so satisfying to her as loving Marius is.  "In the dark folds of life," there is nothing more important than love when it comes down to it and Eponine realizes this.  Even though he isn't her's, her love is brave enough and deep enough for Marius to accept his happiness with another woman.

Blog Post #3 Growth of Valjean and Cosette's Relationship (Prompt C)

Morgan Brewster
Ms. Molyneaux
English H per. D
5-7-15
Growth of Cosette and Valjean’s Relationship

In the novel Les Miserables, Jean Valjean begins his story as a detached outcast who is not accepted by anyone because he is labeled as a dangerous criminal. However, when the bishop of D-- shows him acceptance, and he decides to turn his life around and start fresh. While he is known as Mayor Madeleine, he befriends a poor woman named Fantine, and with her daughter Cosette, he learns the importance of love.
His time with Cosette truly changed Valjean, and he “learns to love” (95), as he had never loved another person before. Jean Valjean had saved Cosette from the Thernadiers, and she was forever grateful. They only had each other, and their support for each other was tremendous. It was with great courage that he saved her, and she “gave strength to him” (117). Even though Cosette didn’t know Valjean’s past or why they were always on the run, she still loved him as her own father and they lived a happy life with each other. Valjean knew that she would always be safer with him if she didn’t know the truth, at least until she was old enough. When Marius and Cosette finally learn about Valjean as he is dying, Cosette’s love for her father does not waver and he dies in peace.