Victor Hugo1802-1885 1802 born to a high-ranking officer in Napoleons armyStatesman, human right campaigner, supporter of republicanism1848 Revolution, French Second Republic, Louis Napoleon (Napoleon III) as President 1851 Napoleon III as emperor, Hugo in exile

Victor Hugo 1802-1885Worked on Les Mierable during exile1870 the Third Republic, Hugo returned to France 1881 France celebrated Hugos 80th birthday 1885 Hugo passed away, the country mourned

Accomplishment the greatest French poetNovelist, playwright, essayistProponent for RomanticismPassion, imagination, eloquence, plot 1831 Notre-Dame de Paris 1845 began to work on Les Miserables1861 the publication of Les Miserable, a runaway success

Introduction

IntroductionLes MiserablesJean ValjeanFantineCosetteJavert

Historical Background

18-19 Century FranceFrench Revolution (1789-1799): a period of political and social changes, violent turmoil, mass executions and repressionThe First Republic (1792-1804)The First French Empire (1804-1814 Emperor Napoleon)The restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy(1820)The Second Republic (1848 Revolution, Louis Napoleon)The French Empire (1851 Napoleon III)The Third Republic (1870)

Inspiration for Les MiserablesDuring the 17 years of formation, Hugo incorporated many personal experiences into his masterpiece.

Hugos friend, Priest Miollis A convict had just been released from jail. When asking for an overnight stay on his trip home, he was turned down because of his criminal past. Bishop Miollis kindly offered him much help and care. Hugo heard of many of Miollis good deeds.Miollis the bishopThe ex-convict Jean Valjean

Inspiration for Les MiserablesDuring the 17 years of formation, Hugo incorporated many personal experiences into his masterpiece.

One snowy day, on his way home, Hugo witnessed an event. A young man followed a young lady stealthily. Suddenly, the man tucked a big clump of snow into behind her neck. She turned angrily and fought with him. The police arrested the girl and sentenced her 6 months in jail. Hugo defended the girl by telling what he saw. Irritated by the polices cold-shoulder attitudes, Hugo identified himself. The polices attitude changed immediately and released the girl. The lady Fantine

Inspiration for Les MiserablesDuring the 17 years of formation, Hugo incorporated many personal experiences into his masterpiece.Hugo projected himself in the story as Marius, who also has a father serving in military.Hugo Marius

Inspiration During the 17 years of formation, Hugo incorporated many personal experiences into his masterpiece.

1848 Revolution stopped Hugos writing until 1859. During the exile, Hugo traveled to a battle field in Brussel, where Napoleon once fought with the British army. Hugo was so impressed with the war that he described in details the Battle of Waterloo in part IICOSETTE.June 30, 1869, Les Miserables was accomplished

2. The Characters

Jean Valjean An ex-convict19 years of imprisonment for stealing food for his starving familyA changed man, a wealthy factory owner, a mayorChased by Javert, haunted by his criminal past

"What have I done? Sweet Jesus what have I done? Become a thief in the night, become a dog on the run!"

Javertan inspectorA believer of justice and lawEven when he was captured by the revolution army and Vajean saved him, he stick to his belief of justice and vowed to capture Vajean."The world is inside out, the world is upside down!" "My heart is stone and still it trembles...... the world I have know is lost in shadows."

FantineMother of CosetteLost her job as a factory worker and worked as a prostitute to raise her daughter

"But the tigers come at night, with their voices soft as thunder. As they tear you hope apart. As they turn your dreams to shame!"

CosetteFantines daughter, an orphanValjean promised Fantine to raise her as his own daugherFell in love with Marius

"How strange the feeling that my life's begun at last! This change, can people really fall in love so fast?!"

The Thenardiers the innkeeper"Kidney of a horse, liver of a cat, filling up the sasuages with this and that."

Marius, a student Eponine, Thenardiers daughter"Life without Cosette means nothing at all! Will you weep Cosette, should Marius fall? Would you weep, Cosette, for me?"

Gavroche, a street boy "This is my school my high society here in the slums of St. Michele. We live on crumbs and humble piety tough on the teeth but what the Hell!"

4. Themes

Themes/Motifs The importance of love, compassion and mercy

Social injustice in nineteenth-century France

The long-term effects of the French Revolution on French society

The plight of the orphan

The true definition of Justice

3. The Musical

Look down, Look down

Jean Valjean is nothing now. Another storymust begin!

At the end of the Day

I dreamed a dream

Who am I?

There is a castleon a cloud

Master of the House

I didn't see you there, forgive me

One day more! At the end of the day you're another day older And that's all you can say for the life of the poor It's a struggle. It's a war And there's nothing that anyone's giving One more day standing about What is it for? One day less to be living!

Reference http://www.lesmis.com/index.htm http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/lesmis/ http://home.kimo.com.tw/jrchyn/les/ http://www.lib.ntnu.edu.tw/Art/hugo/hugo-story.htm http://www.mtholyoke.edu/courses/rschwart/hist255/bohem/tmizbook.html http://www.answers.com/topic/les-mis-rables-musicalhttp://members.aol.com/REELMACK/LesMisClub1.html http://www.londonnet.co.uk/ln/out/ent/theatre.html http://www.musical-cat.com/world/index.php?lan=bg5&name=lemiz

... Fantine... Cosette... ThenardierThenardier...