Les Misérables, By Victor Hugo

Love is a flame, easily snuffed out but just as easily rekindled. Flames are capable of eternally living, similar to love. The power of love is sometimes underestimated. In his novel Les Misérables, Victor Hugo demonstrates what love can really do for a person. Love is explored throughout the novel in several different ways. Hugo’s theme is that love should be shown to all, even if the receiver does not seem worthy, as shown through his character’s lives. Love has the power to redeem anyone. When love is shown to all, it can kill. Additionally, everyone deserves love. Love has more power and potential than it is given credit for. When love is shown to all, those that receive it can love others and can redeem themselves by passing on that love. For example, Jean Valjean is redeemed by his love for Cosette. When he gets out of the galleys, Jean Valjean is full of hatred and has felt no emotion in nineteen years. He “...entered the galleys sobbing and shuddering: he went out hardened; he entered in despair: he went out sullen” (22). He completely changes from the time he entered the galleys to when he gets out. When Jean Valjean keeps his promise to Fantine that he will take care of Cosette, he takes Cosette from the Thenardiers and “...all that he might have felt of love in his entire life melted into a sort of ineffable radiance..Cosette evoked the dawn of love” (Hugo 183). Jean Valjean finally loves again when Cosette enters his life. She has brought new light into his life that he has needed since he was released from the galleys. She awakens all of the good inside him and
First, love has a redeeming power. Love also has the power to kill. Furthermore, everyone deserves love. When love is shown, it can lead to redemption or it can lead to death. Whether love redeems or kills depends on whom love is shown to. Everyone deserves to be shown love, even if it kills