Les Miserables

When Andrea and I were in London we went and saw Les Misérables. It is the longest running musical in West End (almost 24 years). Based on the 1862 novel by French author Victor Hugo, it focuses on the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and his experience of redemption. It is a powerful story of grace, sacrifice and overcoming. Here is a bit about the story.

The story starts in 1815, in Toulon. The peasant Jean Valjean has just been released from imprisonment after nineteen years: five for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family, and fourteen more for numerous escape attempts. Upon being released, he is required to carry a yellow passport that marks him as a convict, despite having already paid his debt to society by serving his time in jail. Rejected by innkeepers, who do not want to take in a convict, Valjean sleeps on the street. This makes him even more angry and bitter. However, the benevolent Bishop Myriel, takes him in and gives him shelter. In the middle of the night, he steals the bishop’s silverware and runs. He is caught, but the bishop rescues him by claiming that the silverware was a gift and at that point gives him his two silver candlesticks as well, chastising him to the police for leaving in such a rush that he forgot these most valuable pieces. The bishop then "reminds" him of the promise, which Valjean has no recollection of making, to use the silver to make an honest man of him. As Valjean broods over these words, he steals a child's silver coin purely out of habit. He chases the boy away but soon after, he repents, and decides to follow the bishop's advice. He searches the city for the child whose money he accidentally stole. At the same time, his theft is reported to the authorities, who now look for him as a repeat offender. If Valjean is caught, he will be forced to spend the rest of his life in prison, so he hides from the police.

Six years later, Valjean, having assumed the pseudonym Monsieur Madeleine to avoid capture has become a wealthy factory owner and is appointed mayor of his adopted town of Montreuil-sur-Mer. While walking down the street one day, he sees a man pinned down under his cart, caught by the wheels. When no one volunteers to lift the cart, he decides to rescue Fauchelevent himself. He crawls underneath the cart and manages to lift it, freeing him. The town's police inspector Javert, who was an adjutant guard at the Bagne of Toulon during Valjean's imprisonment, becomes suspicious of the mayor after witnessing his heroics. He knows the ex-convict Jean Valjean is also capable of such strength.

Sometime later, Valjean meets Fantine. Years earlier, she was forced to abandon her child Cossette with a couple of corrupt and contemptible inn keepers, and gain a living as a prostitute. Later she dies and Valjean promises her that he will look after Cossette.

In the meantime Javert comes to see Valjean again. Javert admits he had accused him of being Jean Valjean to the Parisian authorities after Fantine was freed. However, he tells Valjean that he no longer suspects him because the authorities have announced that another man has been identified as the real Jean Valjean after being arrested and having noticeable similarities. His trial is set the next day. At first, Valjean is torn whether to reveal himself, but decides to do so to save the innocent man. He confesess, but escapes in order to fulfill his promise to Fantine, to help Cossette.

He goes to the Innkeepers who do not want the child and pays an exorbitant amount to save her from a lifestyle of abuse. He shows extreme compassion and takes her in and raises her as his own daughter.

Part of the story revolves around the barricade that students have erected to fight against the French soldiers. Marius is one of the students and is in love with Cossette. Valjean goes to the barricade himself to join the other students, not certain if he wants to protect Marius, or kill him. At this time Javert, who is also there, is outed as a spy and the students want to execute him. Valjean volunteers to execute Javert himself, He takes Javert out of sight, and then shoots into the air while letting him go. As the barricade falls, Valjean carries off the injured and unconscious Marius. Valjean escapes through the sewers, carrying Marius' body on his shoulders. At the exit, he runs into Javert, whom he persuades to give him time to return Marius to his family. Javert grants this request, and then realizes that he is caught between his belief in the law and the mercy Valjean has shown him. He feels he can no longer give Valjean up to the authorities. Having been exposed to grace but unable to accept it, Javert commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine.

Valjean confesses to Marius that he is an escaped convict and that he must go way to protect Cossette. Marius is in agreement with this. Marius and Cosette are soon married. Marius eventually finds out all of the good deeds Valjean has performed, including saving his life on the barricades. Marius and Cosette rush to Valjean's house, but the great man is dying. Valjean reveals his past to the pair and in his final moments, he realizes happiness with his adopted daughter and son-in-law by his side. He expresses his love to them, and then dies.

Valjean is a true hero. His life is turned around when he exeriences extreme grace and he spends the rest of his life showing compassion and mercy to others. The final scene when he dies and is ushered into heaven by Fantine and another girl is quite moving. You could hear most of the audience sniveling during the scene!