Les Misérables (theatre)/Heartwarming

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


  • The entirety of the Bishop of Digne. Just his first lines -

"Come in sir, for you are weary, and the night is cold out there,
Though our lives are very humble, what we have, we have to share...
... Here's a bed to rest 'til morning, rest from pain, and rest from wrong."

  • Fantine's death scene, where Valjean assures her that "your child will want for nothing."

Fantine: "For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping -- and tell Cosette I love her and I'll see her when I wake..."

  • Even the Thénardiers toadying up to the rich Valjean can't change the heartwarming power of his claiming Cosette. "I shall not forsake my vow -- Cosette shall have a father now."
  • "A Little Fall of Rain" is probably the most heartbreaking duet in musical theatre history.

Éponine: "Don't you fret, Monsieur Marius, I don't feel any pain, a little fall of rain, can hardly hurt me now, you're here, that's all I need to know."

  • "Bring Him Home" always puts this Troper to tears.
  • Valjean sparing Javert's life at the barricade.
  • Valjean's death, which leads to a reprise of "Do You Hear the People Sing."

Fantine: Come with me, Where chains will never bind you, All your grief, at last, at last behind you. Lord in heaven, Look down on him in mercy.
Valjean: Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory.
Fantine, Valjean, Éponine: Take my hand, and lead me to salvation, Take my love, For love is everlasting, And remember, The truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God.

    • Special emphasis should be put on that reprise of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" What was formerly a rallying cry to revolution is turned into a hopeful appeal for peace on earth, beautifully ending the show.

Do you hear the people sing, lost in the valley of the night? It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light. For the wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise! Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade, is there a world you long to see? Do you hear the people sing? Say, do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that we bring when tomorrow comes!

  • In the 25th anniversary concert, you can see Javert singing in the final "Do you hear the people sing?"
    • Javert is also present during the finale in the Finnish production.
  • At the very end of the show, after the stage lights have gone out, and the curtain falls [1], the candlesticks that the Bishop of Digne gave to Valjean are all the lights that are left, burning in the darkness, as though forever - just a reminder of what power one man's kindness can have. *snif*
    • The excellent 1934 French epic film ends like that as well, and it is very effective.
  • When done well,all of Marius and Cosette's interactions bring much needed light and sweetness to the story.
  • Every instance where Cosette calls Valjean "papa".

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  1. (although they're frequently put out by the stage crew within seconds, and with good reason)