David Bagley

 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

 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.

 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.

 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 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.

 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.