Javert and Jean Valjean

The characters of Javert and Jean Valjean are said to be of binary opposition. For one, they represent the concept of what is just and right in two different and sometimes opposing ways. Javert embodies the abstract of being right and just in strict accordance to man-made law and written formal norms. On the other hand, Jean Valjean is a representation of what's right and just that is modified by love, compassion, and of morality. These having said, we could see where there characters are founded. Javert is very loyal to man-made law thereby imbibing law-made concept of justice. Hence, a violation, however small they may be must be duly punished as stated in the law. Valjean lives with morality, understands deeply humanity (being human) and conforms to justice according to the law of the divine. That people do change and capable of redemption, deserves second chance,that violations are modified or somehow lessened by intent and circumstance.

Additionally, Javert's conscientious adherence to the law would represent the upper class (bourgeoisie) maintaining their status and keeping their power over those of the lower class (proletariat). Hence, preserving the status quo. Valjean, a running criminal and a proletarian turned bourgeois himself, silently seeks to change, rather than preserve, the social strata through providing employment and helping the needy. From these we could see that they are both right and wrong in different contexts. Javert being right according to the law but wrong in the eyes of ethics and morality. Other wise Jean Valjean is wrong because of his negligence to the law yet right on the side of humanity.

Furthermore, it is not wrong to imply that imply that Javert is the conservative one while Valjean is a reformist, an agent of change. This could be related to why Javert still wants to capture Valjean after so many years (so many that Valjean had already changed). The inspector believes that people cannot possibly change, i.e. "Once a criminal, always a criminal." Yet change did Valjean. Thus it is safe to imply that their characters also represent the parties involved in a development and/or revolution. Javert being the resistance, Valjean the aggressor. Moreover, there's hope for change. If Valjean can, we can, the society can.

At the end, Javert, whose principles and values were shaken by Valjean's, killed himself. Perhaps this is the keypoint of the story's theme. The message is that "Javert" of the society of the society will perish and will be vanquished if more "Valjeans" would rise. But this is not a call for armed revolution. The story clearly shown the use of guns as weapons isn't effective. This is more of a revolution of the intellect and of love- to use the minds and hearts as armors- to apply in words and deeds fields of philosophy, theology and morality as weapons in eliminating illnesses of the society and in changing a very degrading status quo.

The story's subject matter may be bounded by time and place but its theme and its essence as a work of art transcends generations and territories. Les Miserables is timeless. Praises to Victor Hugo!