"Les Miz"

My regular readers may remember that I love Victor Hugo’s - “Les Miserables”. I have read it a number of times. It has been difficult over the years to find a completely unabridged, unadulterated version of the book which in the complete form has over 1400 pages. I read a complete version in high school and then again last year.


I am finding the same difficulty in other media. So far, I have seen a number of movies including the recent musical version. I have seen both the 10th and the 25th anniversary of the musical. And although I have loved them all, they have all been different! I ‘m thinking I’ll have to make a trip to New York’s Broadway or London’s West End to see a complete and unabridged version. I have ordered a CD featuring London’s original 1985 cast. Here’s hoping it is complete!

I have written before about the storyline and it’s relevance to us still today. People and their issues really haven’t changed much since the world began. The world around us may change but people and relationships pretty much stay the same. Since I know the story so well I was curious what it would mean to those who were seeing it for the first time.

I viewed the new movie with my 18 year old daughter. She cried through out the movie. She said she cried five times. But it was her response at the very end that struck me the most. She sighed, wiped at her eyes and whispered softly, “Wow, my life feels so small and insignificant.”

My 12 and 14 year old daughters saw the movie with their stepmom. They reported that they cried (especially Sarah, age 12) and were very moved. My 14 year olds favorite character was Marius’ friend “because he gave his life for something he believed in.”

My 12 year olds favorite characters were Fontine and Eponine “because they gave their lives for someone they loved.”

And ultimately that is exactly what the “Les Miserables” is all about. Love and all it’s consequences. Valjean’s love for a sister and her children caused him to steal bread. Javert’s love was of the steadfastness of the law. The bishop’s love was for God and his fellowman. Fontine’s love was for her daughter. The Thenardiers love was for money and possessions. Valjean’s compassionate love was for Fontine and then for Cosette. Marius’ love was for Cosette and his friends. Cosette loved Valjean and then Marius. Enjolras loved the common people and justice. Gavroche loved his life.

Love is and always will be the greatest force in the universe. It takes many strange turns at times but as my daughters realized it is at its most powerful when that love is for someone other than ourselves. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13 That’s the view from my side of the street, what’s yours?