Great literature throughout the ages seeks to enlighten, entertain and empower. It leads the reader on the road to erudition; it inspires the Everyman. Through the written word, the nameless shall be remembered; the downtrodden, elevated, and the sinner, forgiven. Redemption and sacrifice, both concepts inherent in the human spirit, are the crux of Victor Hugo’s epic novel, Les Misérables.
As mere humans, we can hardly lay claim to being infallible. An ex-convict with a heart withered by the injustices life has dealt, condemned by society; acerbic hatred his only weapon against those whom he deemed responsible for his suffering, Jean Valjean, the protagonist of Les Miserables, represents the depths to which a man can sink. Such is the effect of despair; it twists and deforms the human soul; it grows into vitriolic resentment. Yet, one of the most powerful themes in the novel is that of redemption. Hugo writes of the innate goodness of mankind; even the most hardened heart thaws when enlightened. Valjean, when touched by the Bishop of Digne’s hand of benevolence, is able to look at his past crimes clearly. Jolted by such an intense realization, he possesses the will to wrench himself out of despair and turn his life around through a personal expiation of his iniquities. Instead of wallowing in the murky depths of self-pity, we are inspired through the novel to face our darkest transgressions in the knowledge that there is always a road to salvation.
For the young, idealistic revolutionaries of Les Misérables, self-sacrifice translates into the creation of a sort of Utopia. Fiery in thought and ideal, they share a common dream of fighting for a world where justice reigns and society’s ills are banished. However, the theme of sacrifice is hardly restricted to their radical perspective of insurgency in the pursuit of the creation of a better world. Valjean turns his life around; he is later known as “the beggar who gives alms”, dedicating his new life to making others’ better. Unconditional love, of course, is the greatest motivator of such selflessness. Fantine, a working-class girl, sells her hair, locket, teeth, and eventually, her body, in order to support her daughter. In the hopes of giving Cosette a better life in the Paris slums of the 1800’s, Fantine’s valiant efforts eventually cost her her life. Such is the nature of self-sacrifice; it stems from a burning desire to place the needs of others before one’s own in bleak times.
145 years after the publication of the first copy, Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables still remains the greatest literary work of all time due to its universal appeal. Till the end of time, there will be a mother relentlessly working to better the lives of her children. There will be an insurgent fighting to uphold his ideals. And there will be a brave man lifting himself from the dregs of the corrupted, with a iron-clad resolve, striving to redeem himself in the eyes of the world.
0 Responses to “Les Misérables: Greatest Literary Work of All Time”