Les Miserables is a story of redemption, forgiveness, charity, salvation and moral obligation. The main character, Jean Valjean, enters the novel as a thief, having spent nineteen years in prison. He is given this second chance by M. Myriel, a prominent bishop, who offers Jean Valjean room and board, and in doing so paves the way for Jean Valjean to live a life of financial prosperity and renewed spiritual faith. Jean Valjean poses as M. Madeleine in this pure and natural life, but soon runs into a dilemma. Jean Valjean must choose to "remain in heaven and become a demon there!" or "reenter the underworld and become an angel there" (p. 84)! Through this conflict, Hugo proposes two types of life: the life of a wealthy, comfortable man with few moral obligations and the life of a struggling, but ultimately virtuous, convict. Through this conflict, Hugo expresses Jean Valjean's inner turmoil and his ultimate choice to trade material comfort for moral comfort and selfishness for altruism. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"'? Get an Original Essay In this paradise where Jean Valjean lives, he takes on the role of M. Madeleine, a prosperous mayor, who brings wealth to the entire region he rules over. He is very generous to the poor, has a good conscience, and always seems calm. One day Fauchelevent, an old man, falls under his cart and is unable to get out. M. Madeleine goes under the cart and risks her life for this old man. M. Madeleine also saves Fantine from some time in prison, Javert condemns her for defending herself from someone who makes fun of her because of her appearance. Despite all these acts of kindness, Jean Valjean has done little to reconcile the real moral and legal dilemmas in his life, and they eventually begin. reappear. The actions he takes are true to his kind nature, but also almost feel like a reward to the world for the evils he has committed. The problem is that, according to the laws of society, the only way to right his wrongs is to allow himself to be punished and treated like a criminal. Worse, he became a devil by becoming part of the society he denounced years earlier. . At the beginning of the book he says: "If it were not scandalous that society treated with so rigid precision those of its members who were more poorly endowed in the distribution of wealth than chance had made, and who were therefore most worthy of indulgence. Poste and having resolved these questions, he condemned society and condemned it" (21). He denounces the upper classes, who took advantage of those already in terrible situations, but years later, it became what he condemned to his hatred. The disparity between the image he portrays and his reality causes a great conflict within of him and leads him to reevaluate his choices. The moment in which Jean Valjean's world becomes hell is the very moment in which it becomes salvation for Javert, "Javert was at this moment. moment in paradise, . (113) Hugo writes that the inspector feels that he has triumphed over evil .As Javert becomes a devil in heaven, Jean Valjean becomes an angel in hell. The world into which Jean Valjean emerges is far from the comfortable existence of M. Madeleine. However, despite the tragedy that surrounds him, this choice is better for Jean Valjean, who is able to right the true wrongs of his life After saving Champmathieu, the first action he takes is to save Cosette from the Thénardiers and in return the act provides him with something he has never known before: the. love. The description of Cosette as he first finds her is terrible; the Tendardiers almost kill her. However, Jean Valjean offers to take her away and acts like an angel for the second time, this time in a,.