Curated set · answers marked
What crime does Jean Valjean commit that leads to his imprisonment and sets the story of Les Misérables in motion?
Rationale
Jean Valjean receives a five-year sentence in the galleys, which later extends to nineteen years due to his attempts to escape, for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving nephew. This desperate act defines his identity and drives the novel's main themes of justice, mercy, and redemption.
Who is the police inspector that relentlessly pursues Jean Valjean throughout the novel Les Misérables?
Rationale
Inspector Javert is the main antagonist, committed to enforcing the law and capturing Jean Valjean, whom he initially arrested for stealing a loaf of bread. His strict sense of justice and obsession with Valjean are central to the novel's conflict.
Who is the cruel innkeeper that takes advantage of young Cosette before Jean Valjean rescues her?
Rationale
Thénardier and his wife operate a shady inn in Montfermeil where they care for Cosette. They treat her like a servant while indulging their own daughters, profiting from the money they extort from her mother, Fantine.