Law or Morality
This is a story about redemption. Jean Valjean, Convicted for
stealing a loaf of bread to feed his sister’s seven starving children and sent to prison for five years, he is paroled from prison nineteen years later. Rejected by society for being a former convict, he encounters Bishop Myriel, who turns his life around by showing him mercy and encouraging him to become a new man. He used to be a prisoner; no one is willing to take him in but Bishop Myriel. While Valjean stealing Bishop Myriel’s silver and caught by police, the old priest saves Valjean from being arrested. That is totally changed Valjean. He manages to start a new identity (Monsieur Madeleine) in order to pursue an honest life, after saving the two children of the head police officer in Montfermeil, who does not feel motivated to inquire into Monsieur Madeleine's past. He introduces some new manufacturing techniques and eventually builds two factories and becomes one of the richest men in the area. By popular acclaim he is made mayor. He has a face off with Javert over Fantine's punishment, turns himself in to the police to save another man from prison for life and rescues Cosette from the Thénardiers.
To some degrees, I think Javert is just not in human nature to
work for a lifetime in order to catch Valjean. The guilt he has ever had is offset by what he has done. But Javert is a police inspector, his mission is catch prisoner. It’s cruel for him to have an option between law and
morality. Javert is in a situation in which he knows that the lawful course is immoral. Actually he is touched by Valjean. As a result, His inner conflict leads him to take his own life by jumping into the River Seine.
At first I don’t understand why Valjean choose to kill himself. I
think it might be redemption for his guilt. In my opinion, Valjean is not just an abstract person; he represents the working people, who are always exploited by the dark society. They have kind personality but were killed by dark. I firmly convinced that Valjean’ life is not miserable for he had respected by people. What is miserable is the pathetic society swallowed so many pure hearts.