Engaging the Culture: Les Misérables

Note: This post contains spoilers!  Only read it if you know the story!

When Victor Hugo first wrote Les Misérables in 1862, he could not have known the ways his story would be told a century and a half in the future.  He probably never imagined  Javert singing as he cast himself into the Seine, nor foresaw his characters coming to life on a screen as large as a wall.  But he did know, right from the start, that his story would be timeless.  “So long as ignorance and misery remain on earth,” his preface reads, “books like this cannot be useless.”

The message of Les Misérables is far from useless today.  The throngs of people the world over who have seen the stage show since 1985, as well as the artists who have devoted their talents to retelling the story on stage and on screen are testament to that.  Now, as a brilliant new version of the tale is released in theatres, it is the perfect time for us to do more than weigh the quality of the actors or discuss the scenery.  We need to talk about why we have held on to this story for so long.  We have to identify its challenge to us, and decide whether or not we are willing to accept it.

Les Misérables is, on the surface, heartrending.  Fantine’s poverty and humiliation, the revolutionaries’ failure, and Éponine’s unrequited love all break a different piece of our hearts.  But, in the midst of all this tragedy, Hugo’s story manages to be filled with hope.  The reason for this is eloquently stated in the Finale of the musical: “And remember the truth that once was spoken: to love another person is to see the face of God.”

Les Misérables is a story of love confusing ignorance and creating moments of light and redemption in a world that is otherwise drowning in misery.  It is the story of broken people seeing the face of God when they least expect it, then carrying his blessings to others in turn.  The bishop has compassion for a stranger, giving Valjean the opportunity to live not just as a normal member of society, but as a man so moved by the mercy shown him that he becomes a blessing to every person he meets.  Valjean’s compassion for Fantine allows Fantine to be a blessing to him, because the daughter he agrees to raise for her becomes the most beautiful part of his life.  And Éponine, whose love for Marius is both the greatest joy and greatest pain of her existence, is willing to help him find Cosette and even dies to save him.  She never stops wanting him for herself, but in the absence of that possibility, she does what she can to make him happy.

Les Misérables is not full of happy endings.  Despite the bishop’s compassion, Valjean is hunted all his life.  Valjean cannot save Fantine.  And Éponine dies knowing Marius will easily forget her, with Cosette at his side in the days ahead.  But love does produce flashes of light in a dark world, and the sacrifices of many  come together to create one happy ending that should have been impossible: a prostitute’s illegitimate daughter and a young man of privileged birth who should have died twice in a student uprising live to marry and have happy lives together.  And, somehow, I feel that every character who contributed to that ending would have said it was worth it.

By the typical standards of the world, the love in Les Mis does not make sense.  Why should the bishop save Valjean from the police when all he knew about him was that he was a thief?  Why should Valjean devote half his life to raising a stranger’s child?  And why should Éponine help Marius find Cosette?  Furthermore, why should Valjean give up his freedom to save a man out of his mind, or set Javert free when he knows Javert will likely kill him when he gets the chance?

Maybe love doesn't make sense.  Neither does worshiping a God who died as a common criminal.  But Jesus’ sacrifice became the resurrection and our redemption, and our compassion and sacrifices borne in love contribute to the recreation of a broken world.  “Ignorance and misery” certainly existed in 19^th century France, and they just as certainly exist in our world today.  The message of Les Mis is not to weep for the suffering, it is to live for them.  We are challenged to take the compassion we have already been given and to be love for each other.  "Will you join in our crusade?  Who will be strong and stand with me?” the chorus sings at the end of the musical.  I don’t think they’re talking about building barricades in the streets of Paris.