symbols
candle sticks
Near the beginning of the story JVJ is welcomed into the bishops home. After being cared and treated for Valjean decides to steal the silver candle sticks one night. The same night a few guards catch him and and take him to the bishop asking what the bishop wants to do with him. The bishop tells them lies to the guards and says he gave the candlesticks to him and to let him go. This act of kindness was so shocking to Valjean that he is always looking back at them in grief. When Valjean is lying in his death bed, he still looks at the candlesticks with light shining upon him.
FANTINE'S HAIR AND TEETH
Fantine was a single mother who had one child which she would go to any limits to keep safe. She did not have enough money to raise Cosette, so she found these 'kind' people with the names of the Thenardiers. She made promised to pay as much as they needed to watch and take care of Cosette for her while she left to go find a job. She ended up finding a job in the factory of Monsieur the Mayor. She ended up getting fired, along with that she received another letter from the Thenardiers demanding more money because Cosette was terribly ill. Although they were lying about Cosette, Fantine did not know, therefor she was willing to go to any extent to keep Cosette well. She decided to start prostituting. She sold her hair and teeth for money to pay for Cosette. After she left Cosette behind, her beauty was all she had left with her, and she even sacrificed that. Now she had nothing, and the irony here is that the whole time the Thenardiers were lying to her for her hard earned money; however she does not live to find out about this. She died lonely with nothing since she did not have her child nor her beauty anymore.
the shining light
In several important scenes JVJ is shown in, there is light shining upon him symbolizing faith and god. When JVJ had the pipe in his hand actually questioning himself whether he wanted to murder the Bishop, moon light is arose across the bishop's face. The light made JVJ realize the only reason the bishop left his doors unlocked was that he had faith in god and believed in god to help him for what ever happens. This is simply one example of how the light plays a role in the story. Another time light is symbolized is when JVJ is lying on his death bed with nothing left and light shines upon the crucifix. This symbolizes his change and transformation from being a thief to becoming a man that gives his life away for god.