Week 5 - Valjean Forgiven

Les Miserable, in addition to being a lengthy novel by Victor Hugo, has been transformed in a musical by Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. I have seen the Musical in person, and will never forget the most important lesson that I took away from it. The main character, Jean Valjean has been released on parole after serving nineteen years in prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He is taken in by the Bishop of Digne, who gives him a meal and a place to sleep. However, when Valjean awakens, he steals the bishop’s silver and attempts to leave town. Valjean is ascertained by police, but pleads that he was given the silver by the bishop and that it was not stolen. The song that followed is called “Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven.” In the song the policeman ask Valjean to explain himself to the Bishop, and then ask if the silver was really a gift. The Bishop easily could have turned Valjean into the police. Instead he offers, “surely something slipped your mind,” then places two candlesticks into Valjean’s hands and continues, “you forgot I gave these also, would you leave the best behind?” This act of mercy left me speechless. If someone robbed me of my most precious possessions and was brought back to me, I wouldn’t say “you forgot you could take the car.” After the police leave, the Bishop offers an explanation for his actions. He tells Valjean that he must use the silver “to become an honest man” and that he has “bought his soul for God.” Valjean uses the money to start a new life under a new name. For the rest of the play, Valjean dedicates his life to being a respected figure and serving others. The single act of forgiveness and mercy by the Bishop changed Valjean’s life forever. He in turned changed the lives of many around him for the better. This musical, and in particular this song, gave me a new perspective on forgiveness, mercy, and the ability of a person to change. I always try to look for the good in people and recognize that it many cases, all a person needs is a helping hand.