Love and Compassion
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This theme represents when one character shows love to another character and shows how respected they are and how they are loved. One quote that represents this theme is "Jean Valjean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil,bot to good. It is your soul that i am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and give it to God!" (Hugo 33).
Social Injustice
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This theme represents how a character in the book is brought down by society because of there past or how they look. A quote that shows this is "As he went out, some children who had followed him from the Croix de Colbas, and seemed to be waiting for him, threw stones at him" (Hugo 8).
Change and Transformation
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This theme represents how a character perceives to the reader they were at one point acting one way but after a while certain characters change them and makes them a better person by benefiting themselves. This is shown by "in reality, we have said, M. Gillenormand worshipped Marius" (Hugo 186).
Self-Sacrifice
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This theme represents how a character sacrifices there own life to make a better life for someone they love. Fantine sacrifices her hair, teeth and her body to provide for her daughter.
"What beautiful hair!" exclaimed the barber
"How much will you give me for it?" said she.
"Ten francs."
"Cut it off." (Hugo Fantine Supplement 4).
"What beautiful hair!" exclaimed the barber
"How much will you give me for it?" said she.
"Ten francs."
"Cut it off." (Hugo Fantine Supplement 4).
Light and Dark/Shadows
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When characters are in a certain situation and the light and dark appears in front of them. It helps shows the different ways they can overcome the situation. The gradients from light and dark have a reaction with the character, it is their choice to choose the right way or the wrong way. One example is Jean Valjean was staying with the bishop and he had the choice to kill him or to let him be, " and a ray of moonlight crossing the high window, suddenly lighted up the bishop's pale face. He slept tranquilly. He was almost entirely dressed, through in bed, on account of the cold nights." (Hugo 29).
Gardens
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The garden symbolizes safety when a character is in trouble a garden is always there. An example of the gardens safety is when Jean Valjean and Cosette are together trying to find somewhere to go in Paris and stay away from Javert and his army. They went to bed and woke up, "Jean Valjean found himself in a sort of a garden, very large and of a singular appearance; one of those gloomy gardens which seem made to be seen in the winter and at night." (Hugo 137).