Posts Tagged “Javert”

Righteousness vs “Righteousness” Continuing my re-read of the book: Javert makes his entrance as one of M. Madeleine's few detractors, and the system chews up Fantine and spits her out.
Who IS This Guy, Anyway? Javert reports M. Madeleine, Jean Valjean is found, and the mayor of the town must decide whether to let another man go to prison in his place.
Get Me To The Courthouse On Time Getting to not-Valjean's trial is a lot more complicated than a scene change. It's more like Hurley trying to make Flight 815.
Valjean sure knows how to pick a hiding place Continuing my series on re-reading the novel. Valjean and Cosette arrive in Paris, but are soon driven out, pursued by Javert.
Ambush in the Slums Marius meets his wretched neighbors, the Thenardiers, who try to extort money from Jean Valjean and Cosette. A tense standoff is interrupted by Javert.
Just a Lark Marius withdraws from the world and tries to contact Cosette telepathically. The gang is arrested, but accidentally points Eponine to the Rue Plumet.
A Revolting Development The day of the barricade arrives, and the revolt is much bigger than the show makes it look. Gavroche is having a blast running around singing and pranking.
(From) Drinking to Revolution Grantaire holds court in a tavern, the barricade goes up, Javert is discovered, and Marius has a very different experience getting into the combat zone.
Barricades of Future Past (Plus Cannon Geekery) After a look ahead to the 1848 barricades, Enjolras gives a speech, Valjean makes an entrance, and the students talk geek out over the army's new cannon.
Passing Peak Ammunition The barricade holds against several attacks the next morning, but they start running out of bullets...and defenders. Adieu to Gavroche and Javert.
What a Wonderful Smell You’ve Discovered The history of the Paris sewers...and then Jean Valjean's flight through those offal tunnels, escaping the battle zone.
Jumper Javert's decision to commit suicide doesn't take long to tell, but it's an interesting scene that calls back to other dilemmas he's faced.
Revisiting the Movie Musical After Re-Reading the Novel I liked the film of Les Misérables better on second viewing, and also was able to see just how much they brought in from the novel.
Not exactly Javert’s bridge, but close enough Coincidence: A Flickr event I participate in ended up highlighting a photo taken at the exact spot as one of the personal shots I used on this site.
What’s “Good” for Valjean and Javert Valjean helps people, even at the expense of the social order. Javert preserves the social order, even at the expense of people.
Heroic Javert The ambush at the Gorbeau tenement, is important because it shows a side of Javert that we don’t see very often: the heroic protector of society.
The Crimes of Jean Valjean Javert isn't persecuting an innocent man. He's persecuting a redeemed man who was driven to crime by desperation.
A Few Thoughts on the Mysterious Monsieur Madeleine The crack shot who never kills a small bird (like a lark). No reason to fear new Inspector Javert - at first. And he surprises everyone.
No Such Thing as Coincidence Les Misérables is full of coincidences, some extremely far-fetched. But Victor Hugo treats them as divine design.
Javert vs. the One Who Got Away Javert cares about order, hierarchy, authority. He doesn’t care about people. Anyone on top of the heap he figures deserves to be there, and vice versa. That’s why “Madeleine” throws him for such a loop.
When Javert Loses His Cool When Javert tries to arrest 'M. Madeleine' he can hardly speak. It's interesting to see how different translators handle that.
Rescuing Cosette The woodcut of Little Cosette drastically understates how badly she’s treated by the Thénardiers. So do all the adaptations I’ve seen.
Javert and the Citizen Javert taking Marius' report is the only time we see him with someone he doesn't suspect. It's weird. He's almost friendly. (Almost.)
Javert in his Element This is how Javert sees himself: the vigilant protector of society. But it's only heroic because *this* time, he happens to be in the right.
Valjean’s Hidden Decisions and the End of Resilience After 19 years of prison and 17 years on the run, Valjean has latched onto supporting Cosette as the one thing he's good for. And if Marius is going to do that instead...
Derailing Javert’s One-Track Mind What undoes Javert is that he can't handle uncertainty. He's by-the-book, starkly authoritarian, and as soon as he has to think about things, he bails.
It’s Not Just Javert. It’s the System. Focusing on Javert makes it personal, but he's only one part of a vast machine determined to keep society's underclass down.
Authority Javert is authoritarian, but he's not a leader. He's a follower, because he craves certainty.