1) What does Les Miserables say about love? Why is the love story of Marius and Cosette included? Does Marius’ love count? How does Eponine’s love compare with Marius’? What does the novel say about parental love? (Think of Fantine, Jean Valjean, Marius’ dad/grandfather, the Thernardiers, and Gavroche.) What is the relationship between sacrifice and love? What kind of love does the bishop show?
2) What does Les Miserables say about perceiving people? Which characters are labeled? Which characters ignore labels? Do people become their labels? Discuss the symbolism of mirrors and glass. What is the difference between how justice and law view people?
3) What does Les Miserables say about justice? Interpret Javert. Is he playing God? Explain. What is the difference between justice and law? When in the story is law flawed? Does mercy have a role in justice? In law? Does punishment help people change? What is true justice?
4) What does Les Miserables say about the meaning of exile? Which characters are in exile? How? Which characters, if any, are redeemed from exile? How is a person redeemed from exile? What characteristics does a person need to help redeem another? What is the process of change? How does this appear in the lives of characters (i.e., Jean Valjean and Fantine).
5) What does Les Miserables say about poverty? What role does the bestial imagery play in developing this theme? Which characters are reduced and how? Who are the miserables (the wretched)? Who is most miserable and why?
6) What does Les Miserables say about change? How does change take place for various characters? How does Jean Valjean change? Is the change all at once, or are there stages in the change? Does Javert change? Why/why not? Compare/contrast Javert and Jean Valjean. How does one person help another change? How do labels (perceived identities) facilitate or hinder change?
