Les Misérables (novel)/Characters: Difference between revisions

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== Main Characters ==

=== Jean Valjean ===

The lead character, a convict who spent nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. After getting his parole ticket, Valjean steals two candlesticks from the Bishop of Digne but is allowed to take them with the promise he uses them to make something of his life. Several years on, Valjean becomes the guardian of young Cosette after making a promise to her mother Fantine.

* [[The Atoner]]

* [[Badass Grandpa]]

* [[Heel Face Turn]]: Has one when Bishop of Digne lets him go with the candlesticks.

* [[It Was a Gift]]: The candlesticks Valjean steals from the Bishop of Digne.

* [[Memetic Number]]: 24601.

* [[The Messiah]]: For Fantine and Cosette.

=== Inspector Javert ===

[[Inspector Javert]] is head of the prison Jean Valjean is released from, and makes it his goal in life to track Valjean down after he breaks his parole and bring him to justice.

* [[Antagonist in Mourning]]: {{spoiler|In the anime, Javert visits Valjean's grave when he dies.}}

* [[Badass Longcoat]]: Owner of a very nice black trenchcoat, and is the terror of criminals everywhere.

=== Fantine ===

A single mother, Fantine suffers through life trying to earn money to send to her daughter Cosette, under the care of the Thenardiers. After losing her job, beauty and her dignity, Fantine dies in a hospital - but not before Jean Valjean appears with the promise to find and care for Cosette until his death.

* [[Break the Cutie]]

* [[Broken Bird]]: By the time Fantine dies, she has sold her hair, some of her teeth, her clothes and took up prostitution to get money for Cosette and is on the edge of sanity when Valjean arrives to save her.

=== Cosette ===

The poster girl of the book and musical, Cosette is the daughter of Fantine, left in the "care" of the Thénardiers. Becoming their abused cleaner, Cosette manages to keep an optimistic outlook on life and is eventually adopted by Jean Valjean as her mother's final request. She grows into a lovely woman and falls in love with Marius.

* [[Barefoot Poverty]]: As a child in the novel. See picture on the Novel work page.

* [[Cinderella Circumstances]]: Treated like garbage by her step-family, rescued by a saviour, and falls in love with a handsome man.

=== Marius Pontmercy ===

A charming young bachelor, Marius falls in love with Cosette, leading to [[Love Triangle]] between the two and Éponine, who is very much his friend and confidante ([[Stop Helping Me!|whether he wants her to be or not]]). He is a member of the Friends of the ABC and fights in the revolution against the French law.

* [[Adorkable]]

* [[Author Stand In]]: Hugo Victor revealed Marius is a portrait of how he was as a youngster.

The eldest daughter of the Thénardiers, Éponine starts off as spoiled bratty girl who is mean to Cosette. But, her parents' inn becomes bankrupt and the family are forced into poverty. She falls in love with Marius, but ends up bringing him and Cosette together.

 

* [[Adaptational Attractiveness]]: Éponine is notably more attractive in the musical than she is in the book. She's also a lot less creepy.

* [[Affably Evil]]: Okay, maybe not ''evil'', but still quite manipulative.

* [[If I Can't Have You]]: {{spoiler|In a rather shocking move, Éponine anonymously tells Marius that his friends are expecting him to come to the barricade. Believing Cosette has left for England, Marius goes, with Éponine close behind hoping they can die together.}}

* {{spoiler|[[Last Request]]: In the novel, Éponine asks Marius to kiss her on the forehead after she dies. He does.}}

* [[The Ophelia]]: Actually compared to the [[Trope Namer]].

* [[Samus Is a Girl]]: Éponine disguises herself as a boy to secretly be by Marius' side, and when she takes a bullet for him and her identity is revealed, he is shocked.

=== Enjolras ===

Head of the Friends of the ABC club, Enjolras seeks radical change in France and starts a revolution against the French law, building a barricade to take a stand with his friends.

* [[Angry Mob Song]]: "Do You Hear the People Sing?"

* [[Celibate Hero]]

=== Monsieur and Madame Thénardier ===

A pair of devious, greedy innkeepers who take in Cosette but use her as a cleaner, demanding bigger payments from Fantine. After Jean Valjean adopts Cosette, the Thénardiers are forced out of their inn and becomes criminals in Paris. They have several children including Éponine, Azelma, Gavroche and two other unnamed sons.

* [[Abusive Parents]]: Mainly Thénardier, Madame Thénardier seems to genuinely care for her girls.

* [[Apron Matron]]: Madame Thénardier to her daughters.

 

=== Gavroche ===

* [[Ascended Extra]]: Has a very prominent role in the anime although it also follows the book closely.

* [[Kid Appeal Character]]

=== Bishop Myriel of Digne ===

A friend bishop who takes Jean Valjean in after he left prison. Valjean steals two candlesticks but is arrested and taken back to Bishop Myriel. To Valjean's shock, the Bishop claimed he had given to him as a gift and tells Valjean to use the candlesticks to make something of his life.

* [[Eccentric Mentor]]

* [[The Messiah]]: To Jean Valjean.

=== Friends of the ABC Club ===

A group of gentlemen led by Enjolras who start the revolution against the French law. Other members include Marius, Courfeyrac, Combeferre, Jean Prouvaire, Feuilly, Bahorel, Laigle (nicknamed Bossuet), Joly and the resident drunk Grantaire.

* [[The Alcoholic]]: Grantaire.

* {{spoiler|[[Heroic Sacrifice]]}}

=== Azelma Thénardier ===

The second daughter of the Thénardiers, Azemla is dependent and weak-minded and never disobeys her parents.

* [[Barefoot Poverty]]: As an adolescent.

* [[Cool Big Sis]]: Sees Éponine as this trope.

=== Monsieur Mabeuf ===

An elderly churchwarden, Mabeuf was a friend of Marius' father and buries Colonel Pontmercy after meeting Marius. He is fond of books and plants, but when he is forced to sell all of his books and his wife dies, he joins the rebellion.

* [[Badass Grandpa]]

* [[Bookworm]]

* {{spoiler|[[Heroic Sacrifice]]: Gets gunned down whilst raising the rebel flag atop the barricade.}}