Title: Les Miserables Genre: Historical Fiction
Characters:
- Jean Valjean/Monsieur Madeleine - he is the main character of the story that was convicted for stealing a bread for a starving child. He was given a parole after 19 years then broke it to change his life. Since it is against the law, he was then hunted by Javert.
- Bishop Myriel - the one who welcomes Jean eventhough he stole the silverwares from him. He also inspired Jean to change himself.
- Javert - a police officer who wants to recapture Jean Valjean. He was very loyal to their government that he wants that the law should be followed.
- Fantine - a beautiful woman with a child named Cosette. She was working in M. Madeleine's factory but then another woman discovered that she was an unwed mother and they put her away. Because of poverty, she sold her hair and teeth and later become a prostitute, she then died because of it.
- Cosette - the daughter of Fantine who was abused by the Thenardiers. After her mother's death, Jean get her from the Thenardiers and took care of her.
- Marius - he belongs to a wealthier family but chose to join with the group that fights for their freedom. He was deeply in love with Cosette.
- Eponine - the daughter of the Thenardiers. She was loved by her parents when she's young but then experience hard life at her adolescence. She's very in love with Marius that leads to sacrificing her life during war.
- M. Thenardier and Madame Thenardier - a couple who live their life doing crimes with different people. They are the ones that abused Cosette while she is young.
Plot: The story began when Jean Valjean was released after many years of imprisonment because of stealing bread. He wanders on streets and was rejected by the society for he's a former ex-convict. When he was resting, Bishop Myriel saw him and welcomed him in his home.
While dark, he stole the silverwares of the Bishop and ran, but he was captured by the officers. The bishop saved him again by saying that he gave the silverwares but left the silver candlesticks which represents honesty. Because of those words said, he tore the parole and decided to change his life.
Years passed Jean was never longer Jean, he's now called Monsieur Madeleine, a rich factory owner and a Mayor of his place.
He had a factory worker named Fantine, she leaved her child, Cosette, with the Thenardiers. She didn't know that Cosette was being abused by them. Later on, she was fired at the factory discovering that she's unwed but with a child. Since then, she doesn't know how to pay the Thernardiers. What she did was to sell her hair, 2 teeth and then was engaged to prostitution. Because of that, she became weak and acquire a disease.
Then there came a man who abused Fantine, so she fought back and hit him in the face. There came Javert that sentenced her to prison, luckily, Jean arrived and saved her from the verdict. He then sent Fantine to the hospital for medication. But she eventually die.
Javert arrived at the hospital, but Jean asked for favor if he could give him time to find Cosette, but Javert refused. So, he escaped.
One night, Jean saw a girl in the woods. He asked her name and was happy when he knew that she is Cosette. He accompanied the girl and asked the Thenardiers that he would give anything just to take Cosette away from them. Since the couples wanted money, they agreed. Starting that day, he was called as papa by Cosette.
Several years later, there were some activist named as the Friends of ABC. One of them was Marius, from a rich family but prefer to join the group because of his political views.
While on the streets, Marius saw Cosette that grown up into a beautiful lady. And at first look, he already fell in love with her. With Cosette was Jean, he had again an encounter with the Thenardiers and Javert, and again he'd escaped.
With the help of Eponine, Marius discovered where they live. But again, Monsieur Thenardier knew, so Jean decided that they'll move to England. Marius then decided to join the revolution.
During the revolt, no one knew that Javert disguised as a normal man, not until the young boy discovered it.
Officers went to their barricade and there Eponine died for saving Marius.
As Jean receives a letter from the barricade, he went there and there he saw Javert. He volunteers himself to execute him but the truth is he let him escape.
As the war continues, all had died, except for Marius, e was saved by Jean. Time passed, Cosette and Marius met again and they marry each other. They were reunited with Jean, and there Cosette knew everything about Jean, but still she accepted him. But it's too late, since Jean was already weak. And he died with Marius and Cosette beside him.
Theme: The movie talks about how people fight to end their miserable life. It also talks about transforming your negative self into a new one. There are always room for changes, so we shouldn't be afraid to try.
Symbolism: The movie was symbolized by the silver candle stick. Throughout the film, wherever Jean goes, he always carry it. This was from the priest that helped in changing his life. And as what the priest says, it symbolizes honesty, to be an honest man as he could be.
1. What does the title mean in relation to the film as a whole?
In relation to the film, Les Miserables, as what the english translation says "The Miserables", tells about the story of the different characters as they experience living a miserable life. That they always fought for the betterment of all and are willing to sacrifice for others.
2. Among the characters, to whom can you relate to?
Among characters, I can relate most with Fantine. Not that I will engaged to prostitution and stuffs just to get money, but to the fact that I will do everything that I can just to satisfy the needs of my family. I am willing to do moral things as long as I can do it.
3. Which part of the presentation struck you most? Why?
What struck me most is on the part where Jean Valjean was reunited with Cosette and Marius. There he told the whole truth about him but still Cosette accepts him even though he was an ex-convict. It greatly shows that the love to a family will never change, no matter what he had been through in his life.
4. What is the movie's message?
The movie's message, for me, is that it's not too late to change. Although, there are those who tries to stop you, always think that there's no harm in changing your life into a better one. As long as you don't step on anyone's life.
5. Did I like this in general? Why?
Yes, it was really an inspiring movie. Other than that, it's filled with learnings that may help improve our life. It may also help us by touching and opening the minds and hearts of people to the reality that our world is always filled with negativities and we should help one another in order to stop it.
6. Did I agree with the main theme/purpose? Why or Why not?
Yes, I truly agree with the theme, because as we all see we don't have a perfect life, perfect society and a perfect government, but with this film it shows that people can change. And with this change, it may lead to two things, better or worse. Choose wisely.
7. What specifically did I like/dislike? Why?
I like the part where Javert put his medal on the chest of the little boy. It shows that he honored him for his bravery in facing the enemies. Even though Javert doesn't like it but he have to do it since it's his job.
8. Are there any aspects of theme which are left ambiguous at the end? Why?
For me, none. Because it was clearly shown every detail of it. And at the end, I never felt confused on why and how it happened. Its very clear as crystal
9. How does this film relate to the things that are happening in your life?
The film relates to the happenings not only with my life, but also to the society that I'm living in. We can't deny the fact that even those infamous people are corrupt, so how much more to those on the higher positions. And there are also those people, who never understands the situation of other people, that they are in poverty but still no one is there to help them.
I'm hoping that this would end, in that way, my future kids would live a peaceful and relaxing life.
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