LesMis:ACaseForChristianity
By:LandinWilkins
LesMis,writtenoriginallybyVictorHugoandadaptedintoamusicalbyAlainBoublilis anenthrallingviewing.Withthethemesoflove,freedom,loss,death,hope,andfaith,LesMis notonlyinspireshopeforabrighterfuture,butinadvertentlypresentsoneofthebest perspectivesonChristianityinallofmediaforamodernaudience. Thisfifteenhundredpage“monster”ofanovelwasbegunin1845inFrancebyVictor Hugo,howeverwasforcedtoabandonthemanuscriptaftertheriseofNapoleonIII;Hugo thoughtofNapoleonasatraitorandliberticidaltyrant,collectingtogetheraresistancethatwould leadtothethreatofhisarrestandtheexileofthepoet1 . AfterfleeinghishomelandHugomoved toBrusselsinBelgium,leavingthehalfwrittenLesMiswithhismistressbackinFrance.Hugo wrotethelargemajorityofthenovelontheroad,onlyresidinginBelgiumforthelastpages, overlookingtheBattlefieldofWaterloo2 Withthehugesuccessofhispreviousnovel, Notre Dame de Paris, (betterknowninEnglishastheHunchbackofNotreDame)LesMishada similarboomingsuccess;thoughinFranceitwastentativeduetothethreatofcensorshipandthe guillotine.Evenso,thestorypersistedthroughuntil1980whentheatrelyricist AlainBoublilsaw aproductionof Oliver! WherehebegantoseethecharactersinthatshowasHugo’sown:“As soonastheArtfulDodgercameonstage,Gavrochecametomind.Itwaslikeablowtothesolar
1 “WhyWasVictorHugoExiled?” Visit Guernsey, www.visitguernsey.com/articles/2019/why-was-victor-hugo-exiled#:~:text=However%2C%20w hen%20Napoleon%20III%20took,he%20was%20forced%20into%20exile.Accessed20Jan. 2025.
2 How‘LesMisérables’WastheBiggestDealinBookHistory.” The Paris Review,10Apr.2017, www.theparisreview.org/blog/2017/03/23/hugo-inc/#:~:text=Les%20Misérables%20was%20pub lished%20in,who%20ushered%20it%20to%20safety.
plexus.IstartedseeingallthecharactersofVictorHugo's Les Misérables—Valjean,Javert, Gavroche,Cosette,Marius,andÉponine—inmymind'seye,laughing,crying,andsingingon stage.” HebroughttheideatocomposerClaude-MichelSchönbergandthetwoworkedtogether, eventuallygettingaconceptalbumandascriptformattedandpromotedenoughfortheshowto openontheWestEndinLondoninOctober,1985 3
TheclaimofLesMisholdingthetitleofthebestperspectivetowardsChristianityisa strongone,andtotrulydissectthroughthislensitisnecessarytolookateachofthecharacters, theirownperspective,aswellastheirrelationshipswithoneanother;thereisonlyoneplaceto beginthisdissection,withnoneotherthanJeanValjeanandJavert.JeanValjeanisthefirst centralcharacterthattheaudienceisintroducedtoasaprisonerinalaborprisoncolonyfor stealingaloafofbreadforhissisterandstarvingchild.Atthetimeofthemusical'sbeginninghe isputonparolebytheinspectorJevertwhereimmediatelyitisclearthattheyareeachother's foilcharacters;(moreonthislater).TheaudiencefollowsValjeanashewandersthroughFrance, tryingtofindshelterandemploymentwherehefindsnone.Againandagainheisturnedaway andthreatenedtobebeatenbecauseheisacriminalandthereforelesserthanthe“lawabiding peopleandChristians”heisturnedfrom.Hereeventenminutesintotheshowgivesthefirstof manyexamplesofthetwistedandyetextremelyrealversionofChristianitythathasbecomea sortofstereotypeofChristians.ItisthemindsetthatthosewhoarenotofGodareforsaken, dirty,andunworthyofhelpandthatitisthecorrectthingtodotocastjudgementonthesepeople onbehalfofHim.AftertheshowpresentsthisfalsehostileChristianity,awearyandbroken Valjeanisfoundbythebishop,whotakeshiminandprovideshimwithfood,shelter,andwine.
3 “LesMisérables(Musical).” Wikipedia,WikimediaFoundation,19Jan.2025, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_%28musical%29.
Thisintroducestheothermainjuxtapositioninthisshow,thetrueversionofChristlikelovethat endureseveninthedarkestoftimes.
ThekindnessofthebishopconfusesValjeanandthroughfearanddesperationstealsthe man’ssilverandtakesflightoffintothenight,onlytobecaughtsoonafter.Sunkenindespair andconvincedhewillbesentbacktoalifeofimprisonmentandlabor,Valjeanisdraggedback tothebishop.Thebishop,however,surprisedhimbyfreeinghim,claimingheindeedgavethe silverasagift,evenofferingmoreofthebesttoValjean.Oncefreedthebishopdoesnotabsolve Valjeanofthewronghecommitted,butforgiveshimandoffersapathtoredemptionina remarkablyChrist-likeway.“Youmustusethisprecioussilvertobecomeanhonestman/Bythe witnessofthemartyrs/bythePassionandtheBlood/Godhasraisedyououtofdarkness/Ihave boughtyoursoulforGod” (Prologue/Valjean’s Soliloquy, 1980).
Valjeanisshakenbythisencounterandspirals,lamentingoverhoweverythinghehas everknownhasbeenthroughapessimisticsecularphilosophyastheworldhasbeennothingbut crueltohim.Thissongrevealshisworldbeingshatteredasevery“eyeforaneye,heartofstone” philosophyisbrokendownbythebishop'sactofkindness.Hedoesnotunderstandhowhissoul canbeforgivenandclaimedbyGodthoughhehasdonenothingbuthateandbehurtbythe world.Heisshamedbyhistheftofthesilverandbreaksdown,eventuallylookingforward, havingtherealizationthathehastheopportunitynowtorepentandmoveforward.“Hetoldme thatIhaveasoul/howdoesheknow?Whatspiritcomestomovemylife/Isthereanotherwayto go?” (Valjean’s Soliloquy, 1980). Valjeanseeksredemptionandwithnoothersolutionforhimin sight,hebreakshisparoleandgoesunderthealiasMonsieurLeblanc.
Yearspass,andjustasValjeanhadpromised,herebuilthimselfunderhisnewaliastothe pointwherehebecamethemayorofthetown.Thisway,hecomesacrossawomancalled Fantine;shehadbeenaworkerinafactoryoverseenbyValjeanwhohadbeenpresentasshewas firedandmistreatedbyapervertedforemanafterbeingframedforpromiscuity.Sheiscastaway andwithnowaytoprovideforherchildCosette,wholiveswithinnkeepersandisallegedlyill, Fantinebecomesdesperateandturnstoprostitution,unabletogetanyotherjob.Shelamentsin herballadthat“IdreamedthatGodwouldbeforgiving..”onlygoingontoexpresshowallofher faithhadbeendestroyed,“SodifferentfromthishellI’mliving,sodifferentnowfromwhatit seemed/NowlifehaskilledthedreamIdreamed.”(I Dreamed a Dream, 1980).Thiswayshe reflectshowimmensehardshipcanquiteeasilyleavethosewhowereoncefaithfulindarkness, asleepintheirfaith.
OneofFantine’sdayswalkingthestreets,shecontractstuberculosisandquickly deteriorates.Whenresistingahighpoweredmanfromhisadvancesonher,healertsthe authoritiesfor“disturbingthepeace”andfightinghim.Hereagainisthesecondappearanceof Javert,whoquicklytakestheman’sstoryasfactand(actingincontradictiontohissupposedly Christianmorals)disregardsherpleastolethergotocareforCosette.Herepeatshismantra, againusingreligionasajustificationforhisharshandunforgivingtreatment:“Honestwork,just reward/That’sthewaytopleasetheLord.” (Fantine’s Arrest, 1980). ThatisuntilValjeansteps intothepicture.GoingunrecognizedastheprisonertoJavertunderhisalias,heuseshispower asmayortofreeherandtakehertohospitalinstead,muchtoJavert’sprotest.Fantine,humiliated andbroken,tellshimhowhewasthereasshegotsentawayanddidnothing.Shespeaksofher dyingCosetteandoverwhelmedbyguiltandgriefValjeanseesthatitishisdutyfromGodto
careforthiswomanandherdaughter,“InHisnamemytaskhasjustbegun/Iwillseeitdone!” (Fantine’s Arrest, 1980).
Inthehospital,Fantine’sconditionworsensandshebeginstohallucinateherdaughter withher,deliriouslyspeakingandcomfortingthechild.Valjeanarrivesanddrawsneartoherand comfortsherinherillness,speakingsoftlyofhowhewilltakecareofherdaughterasshepanics andpleadswithhim.Heremainsuntilsheissleepingindeath,holdingherhand.
Fantineonlyreturnsoncemoreintheshow,duringtheEpilogue,wheretheaudiencesees sheisinthekingdomofGod.Throughallofherpain,despair,anddisbeliefintheworld,Les Mismakesapointforhertobethefirstinheaven,inlinewithscripturessuchasPsalm34:18: “TheLordisclosetothebrokenheartedandsavesthosewhoarecrushedinspirit.”
ValjeanbesideFantine,nowexposedofhistrueidentityfromapriorincidentconcerning amanbeingmistakenashimandalmostputinprisonfor“breakingparole”,heisconfrontedby InspectorJavertoncemore.Valjeanpleadshiscasethatheisachangedmanandnowhasaduty toFantine’schild.WhenthishasnopersuasionpleadsthathewillreturninthreedaystoJavert tobetakentoprison,onlytohavetimetoensureCosetteistakencareof.Javertscoffsatthisand theybegintoargue,inthemusicsingingsimultaneously;Vajeanpleadsthathemustdothisand thatheknowsnothingofhislifeorthemanheiswhileJarvertisseeminglystuckinamindset, repeatingseveraltimesamantrathat“Menlikeyoucanneverchange/Menlikemecannever change”(The Confrontation, 1980). Whenattemptedtobeseized,Valjeanreluctantlyfightsthe manand,beingsignificantlystrongerthanhe,rendershimincapacitatedbeforebothmenmakea vow,ValjeantoCosette,andJaverttoValjean:“Isweartoyou,Iwillbethere.”(Confrontation, 1980).
ThismomentisheavilysignificanttoJavertasitleadstohisownsoliloquy,entitled Stars. Unabletoseehisownobsession,hehasmadeanidolofthelawandconvinceshimself thatheperformstheworkofGodwhileValjean(inrealitythemuchmoreChrist-likeChristian) iswiththeevilofLucifer.“Heknowsthewayofthedark/MineisthewayoftheLord/Those whofollowthepathoftherighteous,shallhavetheirreward./AndiftheyfallasLuciferfell/ theflame,thesword.” (Stars, 1980). Thisentiresongisreflectiveoftheintenselyunhealthyand falsemindsetthatjudgementishistogiveonbehalfofGod,Javertisconsumedbythisideal: “Lordletmefindhim,thatImayseehimsafebehindbars/Iwillneverrest/‘TilthenthisI swear/thisIswearbythestars.”(Stars, 1980).
Anothersetofyearspass,andValjeanhasmovedontoyetanothersecretlife,caringfor anowlateteenageCosettewhomhegotby“buying”herfromthe Thenardiers,asleazyfamily fullofconartistsandcriminalswhorunaninn.Heretheaudiencemeetsthenextpairof characters,includingtheyoungEponine,daughterofThenardierandbestfriendofMarius,a youngrevolutionaryman.Bychanceallofthemareinthesquare,Mariusattemptstokeep Eponinefromactingcriminallybutindignantsherunsoff.IntryingtopursueherMariusis distractedbyrunningintoCosette;heisimmediatelytakenbyher,absolutelystunnedandin loveevenassheishurriedawaybyValjeanwhohadjustgottenrecognizedandalmostattacked bytheThenardiers.Fearingthepolicebeingcalledthepairrushesaway,leavingastunned Maruistogolatetoarevolutionarymeetingwithhisfriends.
Eponine,whenpressedbyalovefoggedMarius,concedesthatsherecognizedCosette fromwhentheywereyoungandCosettestayedwiththefamily.Despiteherattemptstobrushit offandkeephisattentiononherinstead,shetakeshimtothehousewhereshenowlives.Cosette
andMariusbothsingoftheirloveforeachotherasEponinewatcheson.Itisclearnowtothe audiencehowstrickenEponineisaboutMarius,herownloveforhimachingashealmost completelyignoresher.“Everywordthathesaysisadaggerinme./Inmylife/There’sbeenno onelikehimanywhere,anywherewhereheis/Ifheasked,I’dbehis.” (In My Life, 1980). This love,thekindthatdrawshertoMariusastheonlybrightsparkinherwholelifewillbethe motivatorforhereveryactionintherestoftheshow.
WithMariusandCosettetogetherandoblivioustotheturmoilofEponinejustoutsideof thegate,shekeepswatch;savingthepairwhenherfatherandseveralcriminalscometorob Valjean.Sheputsherselfinlineoffireforabeatingsothatthetwocanremainunseenandsafe, despiteherownjealousy,screamingsothatthehouseiswarnedoftheattackandmaking Thendarierseizeher,rushingawaywiththerestofthecriminals.AnalarmedVajeanrushesout and,mistakingtheattemptedrobberyasJavertrediscoveringhim,commandsCosettetopack andthattheyaretoleavethecountry,nolongersafe.
LeadingtotheclosingnumberofActI, One Day More! servesasasummationforallof thecharactersandthestandingofwheretheyareatthispoint.Valjeanlooksforwardsearching foranewlifeoncemore,MariusandCosettesingtheirgoodbyes,Eponinelamentsbeingonher ownoncemore,JavertfixatesoncapturingValjeanandquellingtherevolutionthatisplannedby Mariusandtheschoolboys.Mosteveryoneinthecastisonstageatthispointandtheyallstand, lookingforwardtowardthenextday,filledwithuncertaintybutdeterminationknowingthattheir fateisnowinGod’shands.“Tomorrowisthejudgementday/Tomorrowwe’lldiscoverwhat ourGodinheavenhasinstore!/Onemoredawn/Onemoreday/Onedaymore!” (One Day More, 1980).
ThedayfortheJuneRebellionarrivesandtheyoungrevolutionariesaregatheredtobuild thebarricade.ItisnowthatEponinealsofindsherselfonthebarricade,insearchofMarius; scoldingherforbeingthereinthefirstplace,hesendsheroffwithalettertoCosette,askingher todeliverthedeclarationtoherbeforeshesetsoff.Eponine,utterlydisheartenedbyhis continuedrejectiondoesthisforhimanyway,asshereturnsdeliveringhercentralballad,“On My Own”. InasimilarfashiontoFantine’searlier"I Dreamed a Dream", Eponineexpressesher fervidlongingforafuturewithMariuseventhoughsheknowsthat“It’sonlyinmymind-”.She fantasizesabouthowlifewithhimistheonlylightorhopeinherlife.Heartbreakingly,shealso understandsthatheisinlovewithanother,Cosette,andthatherneedforhimisnotreciprocated withloveforherself.“Ilovehim,buteverydayI'mlearning/Allmylife,I'veonlybeen pretending/Withoutme,hisworldwouldgoonturning/Aworldthat'sfullofhappiness/ThatI haveneverknown!” (On My Own, 1980). Evenstill,sheisdrawnbacktohim.
Returningtothebarricade,EponinedelivershermessagethatValjeanandCosettehave receivedtheletterbeforesuddenlycollapsing.FranticallyMaruiscatcheshersearchingforwhat iswrong,findingthatinsendingthelettershewasshot.Hepanicsandtriestospeaktoherbut shestopshim,tellinghimsoftlytonotfretandthatshe’salrightbecausehe’sneartoherandwill keephersafe.Heholdsherandswearsthatshewilllive,prayingoutloudandwishingthathe couldhealherwoundswithlove.Unswayed,shesmilesathimandthroughherpainsheis comforted,knowingthatwithouthimtherewasnootherloveinherlifeandthatshewilldie warmandlovedbyhim,sleepinginhisembraceatlast.Foramomenteverythingwasjustasshe alwaysdreamed.
Byfaroneofthemostheartbreakingmomentsintheshowthroughasoftandbroken duet,Eponineexemplifiesthevastloveandselflessnesssheholdsforothers,holdingtrueJohn
15:13says,“Thereisnogreaterlovethanthis:tolaydownhislifeforhisfriends.”Evenif unawareatthetime,hadEponinenotheldsuchChrist-likeloveforMarius,theletterthatsaved Marius’lifelaterwouldhaveneverbeendelivered.Shetoowillreturninthe “Epilogue” with Fantineinheaven,theselflessactofherdeathsavingherfromherpain,loneliness,andallofthe hurtsheexperiencedinlife;justasPsalm27:10offers,“TheLordwilltakeyouin,evenifyour motherandfatherhaveforsakenyou.”
Javerttoogoestothebarricade,actingasanallyratherthanaplantfromthelaw; assuringtheboyshecangettheminformationfromtheiroppressors.Aftersometimehereturns, claiminghehasgotteninformationthatthearmieswillnotattackthatnight,intendingtowaitthe rebelsoutbeforetryingtoinitiateanactualfirefight.Heistrusteduntilayoungboy,Gavroche, criesoutthatheisaliar.ByobservingandbeingaboutthetownGavrochealreadyknowswho heisandthroughexposinghisliesasInspectorJavert,getshimtakencaptivebythe revolutionaries.
AfterreceivingtheletterMariushadsentproclaiminghisloveforValjean’swardCosette hefeelsapush,perhapsfromtheLord,togowiththerevolutionaries.Warilyheisacceptedand meetsJavertonceagain,onlythistimethepowerhasshifted.Valjeanfightsalongsidethemen duringthefirstattack,aspaymentonlyaskingtolethimtakecareofJavertastheboyswishedto killhim.Bitterandhalf-brokenJavertacceptshisfate,spittingatValjeanthatheknowshemust havehungeredtokillhimallhislife.Partlyexasperatedbyhisincessantlypresumptuousand stonecoldmindset,ValjeanletsJavertfree,leavingthemanreelingandconfused,stillgrasping ontothemindsetthathaddrivenhimforforty-plusyears.“Onceathief,foreverathief/What youwantyoualwayssteal!/Youwouldtradeyourlifeformine/Yes,Valjean,youwantadeal/
ShootmenowforallIcare!/Ifyouletmegobeware/You'llstillanswertoJavert!” (First Attack, 1980).
SeeingthatJavetissimplyunabletowraphismindaroundtheideaofredemption,his wholebeingtooobsessiveandrapturedbytheideaofjusticeheisdisappointed.Onceagainhe explainstohimthatheisasinner,justaseveryoneelseis;hesetshimfree,extendinghis forgivenessthatparallelscompletelyhowthepriestofferedhimtheChrist-likecompassionthat transformedhislifesomanyyearsago.“Youarefree,andtherearenoconditions/Nobargains orpetitions/There'snothingthatIblameyoufor/You'vedoneyourduty,nothingmore.” (First Attack, 1980). WithnodoubtthatJavertwillcrosshispathagain,heissetfree.
Javertisutterlydistraught.HeletsgoofValjeanoncemoreandspirals,notbeingableto understandhowValjeancanbehavethewayhedoescomparedtohistwistedvisionofhim,how therolecouldhavereversedsocompletely.Themusicplayedduring “Valjean’s Soliloquy” now repeats,signifyingthesameworldviewcollapsethatValjeanexperiencedwhenhefirstextended thepriest’sChrist-likelove.“DamnedifI'llyieldattheendofthechase/IamtheLawandthe Lawisnotmocked/I'llspithispityrightbackinhisface/Thereisnothingonearththatwe share/ItiseitherValjeanorJavert!” (Javert’s Suicide, 1980). LikeValjean,hecannotunderstand whyhewouldbeofferedhislifebackaftersomuchatrocity;butunlikehim,Hehasmadean idoloftheLawandhimselfandtakeshisactofmercyaspityandmockery.Tryingtogaspathis failingmentalstate,hegrappleswithwhetherValjeancouldtrulybeforgivenandifheisfrom heavenorfromhell.
AftersomanyyearsofobsessingoverValjean,obsessingoverbringinghimtojustice anddoinghisdutytoGod,helookstowardthestars.Thoughthistime,wherebeforetherewasa
lightandguidancehefeltsymbolicallytotheLordandhisduty,thereisnothing.Thevowhe madebythestarstobringValjeantojusticeisnolongerseen.Hemustnowmakeadecision.“I amreaching,butIfall/Andthestarsareblackandcold/AsIstareintothevoid…”“I'llescape nowfromthatworld/FromtheworldofJeanValjean/ThereisnowhereIcanturn/Thereisno waytogoon!” (Javert’s Suicide, 1980).
Unabletochangehismindset,heisreminiscentofthediscipleofJudasintheBible. AfterhisbetrayalofChrist,hewasabsolutelyovercomewithshameandgrief,unabletoeven hopeforredemptionoranotherwaydespiteallofJesus’teachingsofloveandforgiveness,he killedhimself,justasJavertdoeshereintheshow.InasimilarwayValjeantooreflectsthe disciplePeterasPetertoobetrayedChristanddenieshim,committingmanywrongs.Butrather thansuccumbingtodespairwhenofferedhisredemptionheacceptedit,devotinghislifeafterto servingtheLordandbeingabetterman,evenbecomingthefirstPopeoftheCatholicchurch. Theshowputsgreatemphasisonredemptionsuchasthis,highlightingidealsthatfallinline withversessuchasPsalms107:2:“LettheredeemedoftheLordtelltheirstory–thosehe redeemedfromthehandofthefoe.”
Returningtothebarricade,Valjeansitsunderthemoonlightwhiletheschoolboyssleep. HesitsnexttoMarius,watchingthetroubledyoungmantrytorestandbeginstopray.Heknows heisanoldmannowandthathistimeisalmostthroughandhethanksGod,acknowledgingthat inhistimeofneedithasbeentheLordashispureconstant.Henowlookstothefrightenedboy, prayingtotheLordforhimtolivethroughtherebellion.“Youcantake,youcangive/Lethim be,lethimlive/IfIdie,letmedie/Lethimlive/Bringhimhome” (Bring Him Home, 1980). Thissoftprayerisnotgoneunheardasdawncomesandfightingbegins.
Therevolutionariesaregivennosupportfromtheircityandarelefttofightalone.They fighttothelastman,almosteverysingleoneoftheyoungboysdying.
Whenthefightinghassubsided,Valjeanemerges,bysomemiraclealive,andhesearches forMarius.Findinghimhalfdead,injured,andunconscious,hetakestheboybyescaping throughthesewers.HerunsintothecorpserobbingThenardierashestruggles,whorevelsand laughsathoweverythinghasturnedout.Valjean'searlierprayerisansweredandhesavesthe boy’slife,gettinghimtoahospitalandfleeing,notallowingMariustoseethatitwashewho broughthimthere.
InthefollowingweeksMariusrecovers,beingabletowalkassistedwithacane,butis utterlytormentedbymemoriesandsurvivorsguilt.Inhisballad “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”,hesingsofhisgriefsoimmensethathecannotexpressitinwords.Hereels,plagued withanxietyandguiltfromhisownsurvival,seemingtoseephantomfacesandshadows everywhereofhislatefriends,beggingforforgivenessfromghoststhatcannotrespond.“Ohmy friends,myfriendsforgiveme/ThatIliveandyouaregone/There'sagriefthatcan'tbespoken /There'sapaingoesonandon” (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, 1980).
Withnooneelse,hereturnsatlasttohisbelovedCosette.Sheurgeshimtofocusonthe futureandtheirlovewhileheislargelytrappedinhismemoriesandthequestionofwhowasit thatsavedhislifethatnightonthebarricade.
Finally,sheisabletobreakthroughtohimandthoughhisgriefremainstheirlovefor eachotheroverwhelmsitandtheyreprisethemelodyof “Heart Full of Love” onlynow Eponine’smelodyinthesongisreplacedwithValjean.Theoldmanwatchestheyoungcouple andknowsthattheywillbealrightand,likeEponine,resolveshimselftostepawayfromthepair
andhisbeloveddaughter.“Shewasneverminetokeep/Letitbe/Letitbe/Aheartfullof love,thisIgiveyou/Onthisday.” (Every Day, 1980). HepullsonlyMariusasidetogivehim hisstory.Aftersolongofhidingawaybehindfalseidentitiesthetruthisrevealedtotheboy, endinginValjeansoftlyrepeatingthesamequestionhe’sbeentryingtoanswersincethe beginning,“WhoamI?”.Marius,fullofquietunderstandingrepliessincerely:“You’reJean Valjean.”Finally,withwisdomofhisyearsandfromtheLordandsoftreassuranceofhis identity,heisfilledwithcontentmentanddepartsfromthepair.
AtMariusandCosette’sweddingreception,Thenardierarrivesandforapriceinforms Mariusthatheknowswhosavedhimfromthebarricade.WiththerevelationthatValjeanwashis delivererandtheknowledgethathehasgonealonehefeelsfoolishandgrabsCosette,rushing herouttogotoherfather.
MeanwhileValjeanwaitsforseveraldays,sittingbythelightofthesamecandlesticksthe priestgiftedhimsomanyyearsagoandpraying.Finallyfeelingatrest,hereprises “Bring Him Home” butnowwithanewprayer.“Godonhigh,hearmyprayer/Takemenowtothycare/ WhereYouare,letmebe/Takemenow,takemethere/Bringmehome.” (Epilogue, 1980). In answertohisprayer,hehearsthevoiceofFantine,blessinghisnamethatheraisedherchildin loveandassuringhimthathewillsoonbewithGod.
InawhirlCosetteandMariusrushin,herfranticforexplanationofifherfatherisalright andhimsayingthathelayshislifedownathisfeetinthanksforsavinghislife.Valjeanisfilled withgratitudefortheircompanionshipandlongstobenearCosetteashepasses.Hecomforts herasshedistressesoverthedyingmanandgivesherwritingsofhermotherandhistruelife
storythathadonlybeensharedwithMariusatthispoint.Toherhesingsthesamemelodyher motherhadsungwhenshewasdying,bothrepeatingtheirloveforherevenasthey“sleep”.
AshepassesbothEponineandFantineappearoncemore,nowpurifiedandhealedin heaventheywelcomeValjean,allowinghimtoatlastleavehisgriefandchainsbehind.The threestand,watchingtheremainingcoupleofMariusandCosetteclingtoeachotherbefore deliveringthelinethatbestdemonstratestheabsolutecoreoftheentireperformance: “Tolove anotherpersonistoseethefaceofGod.” (Epilogue, 1980).
Theshowendswiththeentirecast,charactersaliveanddeadenteringthestageand reprising “Do You Hear the People Sing?”.Theysingofallofthelostanddepravedfightingfor somuchonearthbuthowonedayallthatyearnforit“willliveagaininfreedominthegarden oftheLord”andnomatterthepresentsufferingonedayallpeoplewillbegrantedtheirreward. Thelastversecomesoutasasymphoniccalltoactionfortheaudience,callingforpeopletotake heartandfindthecouragetolooktowardthefuture,tojointhecrusade,andtohearthepeople sing. —---------------
LesMisisamasterpieceinshowcasingChristianityasitdoesnotshyawayfromcruelor difficulttothinkabouttopics.Itseemssocommonthatthedepthofthereligionisstrippedaway muchofthetimewhenitisportrayedtothepublic,eithercomingacrossmuchtooharsh,much toowatereddown,orinsomecasescondescendingorconniving.LesMisperfectlytacklesthis byshowingallofthesedifferenttwistedvisionsofChristianitybesidethetruebiblicalvisionof whatitwasintendedtobe.
Complementingthisitoffersthemesandanswerstoquestionsthataresocommonly ignoredinthefaithsuchashowactuallyunbiblicalitistojudgeothersandthedangersof
makingidolstowhatmayseemright,asJavertdoes.Itdepictsperfectlyhowthosewhoseemthe mostunrighteouslikeprostitutes,criminals,andtheforsakencantrulyactinawaythatismost favorableintheeyesofGod.Trulyit’sgreatestaccomplishmentthoughcomeswiththevisionof whattruelovemeans.LesMisphenomenallyshowsthemeaningoftruelovetowardallpeople, itsownmoralfallingperfectlyinlinewiththatof1Corinthians13:4-8,“Loveispatient,loveis kind.Itdoesnotenvy,itdoesnotboast,itisnotproud.Itdoesnotdishonorothers,itisnot self-seeking,itisnoteasilyangered,itkeepsnorecordofwrongs. Lovedoesnotdelightinevil butrejoiceswiththetruth.Italwaysprotects,alwaystrusts,alwayshopes,alwaysperseveres.”
Hopeandloveinpeopleisalmostasessentialasfoodandwater.Andasanyviewerof LesMiscansee,themostcorebiblicaltruthsareupheldthatthesethingscantrulybefound anywhere;youonlyhavetolookforit.Sotakeheartandkeephope,becausejustastheshow proclaims:“itisthefuturethattheybringwhentomorrowcomes!” (Epilogue,1980).
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