[FUN WITH READING 2018-20230A] Freedom and System of Values

20230陶占皓 (TAO, CHAN-HAO)

[BOOK PROFILE]

TITLE OF THE BOOK: Les Misérables

NAME OF THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Bassett

YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2012

ISBN: 978-0-19-479440-4

Freedom and System of Values

This is a book written by a fan of Les Misérables who wants to share the story. It is not an objective book, and it only talks about the revolutionary army and sided with them.

This story is about the "June Revolution," in the beginning of the story, 1815. Jean Valjean stole a loaf of bread for his hungry family nineteen years ago, and now he finally could leave the jail. However, he was an ex-convict, so no one wanted to help a man like him except the bishop of Digne. The bishop even gave him his silver candlesticks after he stole all the other sliver objects in the church. This action made Jean Valjean swear to be a kind-hearted man. Then the story described about Fantine who had a daughter and worked for the factory. One day, the executive of the factory wanted to expel Fantine because she had a lovely child, and Jean Valjean was there. He wanted to stop it, but he couldn’t make it. When he was the mayor, Jean Valjean found Javert, who managed him in jail, wanted to catch him back, so he shrunk back. Because of losing her job, Fantine had no choice but to sell her hair, teeth and even body. When Jean Valjean met her again, she got terribly sick, and she wanted Jean Valjean to take care of her daughter, Cosette. When Jean Valjean found Cosette, Javert knew his real identity and wanted to catch him back, so Jean Valjean took Cosette to flee. After many years, Cosette became a teenager, and Jean Valjean became an old man, Cosette met her prince charming Marius. They loved at first sight, but Marius was the important member in the revolutionary army, and they were going to launch a revolution soon. Later, the revolution started. After the fierce fight, Marius got hurt. When Jean Valjean carried Marius and wanted to save him, Jarvert sunk into confusion, and finally he jumped into the river to kill himself. In the last, Marius restituted and married Cosette. Jean Valjean left them and died in peace.

This story made me impressed for "What is the good and evil?" There was no absolute good or evil. Javert thought he was on the good side, and Jean Valjean was the absolute bad guy. But in many readers’ eyes, Javert was too persistent for the absolute good, and maybe Jean Valjean was the best in the whole story. It told us that there was no absolute good or evil thing. All was resolved by your position.