Les Misérables
Book 1: Fantine
Chapters 1-4
Characters:
-Monsieur Myriel/Monseigneur Bienvenu: A widower become priest who is extremely generous and giving to the less fortunate.
-Mademoiselle Baptistine: The sister of Monsieur Myriel.
-Madame Magloire: The housekeeper of Monsieur Myriel who is very disturbed at finding that the silver is stolen.
-Jean Valjean: A recently discharged prison inmate who loved his family so much that he stole for them and was sent to jail for this. Valjean is viewed as a criminal by most people although he is actually a good person on the inside.
-Tholomyes, Listolier, Fameuil, and Blacheville: Four students who play a terrible joke on their girlfriends.
-Fantine, Zéphine, Dahlia, and Favourite: The girlfriends of the four students. Fantine is pregnant with Tholomyes child so when Tholomyes leaves she feels terribly depressed.
-Cosette: Daughter of Fantine
-Thénardier's- The people who agree to care for Cosette Fantine is away.
Main Ideas:
-Jean Valjean is released from prison, turned away by the innkeeper, and then talks to a woman who directs him to Monseigneur Bienvenu's house.
- Jean Valjean is allowed to spend the night at Monseigneur Bienvenu's house.
- Jean Valjean wakes up in the middle of the night, and steals the plates and silver.
-Monseigneur Bienvenu lies to the police and tells them that he gave Jean Valjean the silver. He then gives Jean Valjean the candlesticks as well.
-Four students play a nasty trick on their girlfriends, leaving them and returning home.
- Fantine has a child by Tholomyes so is very upset in secret about his leaving.
-Fantine hands over Cosette to the Thénardier's.
Connection: Victor Hugo criticizes the Catholic Church of France at this time. An example of this is when Monseigneur Bienvenu sees that the hospital next store to...