The Evil of Good in Les Misérables

Javert became suspicious of Monsieur Madeline when he lifts a cart of a man, and is justified in his suspicions. Javert said, "Monsieur Mayor six weeks ago after that scene about that girl, i was enraged and denounced you" The remarkable feat of strength that Madeline preformed caught Javert's attention. Javert associated the strength with that of a convict and became suspicious. "I believed it, for a long while i had had suspicions." Javert's suspicions are justified because it was indeed Madeline who was the prisoner Javert remembers. Madeline's courageous act led to Javert developing a justified suspicion based on his memory of a strong prisoner.

Jean Valjean undergoes an internal conflict when he is torn between freeing an innocent man and thinking of the greater good. Valjean says, "He repressed his first generous impulse and recoiled before such heroism."Although Valjean turning himself in would mean reverting back to his old ways, it is what is values are pushing him to do. He would be tainting all he owned and stood for in sin if he decided to let Champmathieu pay for his errors. Valjean says, "…That henceforth Mayor Madeline, with all his virtues would be abonimable to him" If Valjean turned himself in it would mean abandoning many people who needed him, including Fantine. Although Champmathieu would suffer unjustly, Valjean staying quiet would benefit the greater good. Valjean goes back and forth repeatedly between his choice of saving one man or saving his town.

Valjean assumes responsibility for Fantine because he wishes to help her become happy and virtuous again. Valjean says, "You shall do no more work…You shall again become honest in again becoming happy." Because Fantine lost her job at Valejan's factory, she was forced to resort to becoming a prostitute in order to keep her child safe. Valjean wants to compensate by giving the woman the opportunity to be honest again, so he takes her in and provides for her. Valjean says, "I do not doubt