Novel by French author Victor Hugo

Play Summary

    After five years of imprisonment for stealing food for his starving sister and her family, and fourteen more for numerous attempts to escape, Jean Valjean is released back into a world that rejects him. As a permanent reminder of his past, he is marked by his prison number, and his yellow passport. His return to society is unfavorably marked by the rejections of innkeepers; he eventually resigns to sleeping on the streets. An act of benevolence by Bishop Myriel becomes the underlying force in Jean Valjean's life. However, during the night he stays with the Bishop, he steals his silverware and attemps escape. He is caught, but the bishop rescues him by claiming that the silver was a gift and at that point give him two candlesticks as well. The bishop tells him he must become an honest man and must perform good deeds for others. The Bishops call to honesty dictates Jean Valjean's every action from that point forward. Closely connected to Jean Valjean is the police inspector Javert, a man driven by the moral obligations of his job. Read More