LES MIS

David Bagley

Background

Les Miserables was first a novel by Victor Hugo

The novel is considered one of the most important novels of all time

It has been adapted many ways including film and the very popular Broadway show

Plot Summary The story is about people living through the

Paris uprising of 1832 The themes include change, the battle

between right and wrong and good and evil, and of course, love in the time of war.

Characters

Jean Valjean- The main character. Begins as a newly freed prisoner and represents the change from evil to good. Takes responsibility for Cossette when Fantine dies

Javert- Jean Valjean’s parole officer. The story’s antagonist. He represents unfaltering justice, and it becomes his downfall in the end

Fantine- Cossette’s mother. A character that symbolizes innocence but dies very early in the story.

Characters Pt. 2

Cossette- The main heroine. She is fantine’s daughter and is forced to live with the thenadiers at first in horrible conditions. Represents beauty and innocence

Marius- A son of the revolution and one of the heroes in the story. Falls in love with Cossette but needs to do his duty for the revolution

Thenadiers- Eponine’s parents and the only truly evil characters in the play. Represent evil and greed.

Eponine

Eponine is the Thenadier’s daughter and is pampered until times get hard when she becomes a normal street urchin. Is interested in marius, but he is not interested in her. Dresses as a boy to fight beside him in the uprising and takes a bullet for him. One of the first victims of the uprising.

On My Own

This song is Eponine singing about how she loves Marius but knows he wont ever love her, so she hides it. It’s a very pretty song, but the message is pretty pathetic. Kinda miserable actually, hint hint.