Books of '06--Les Miserables Book 2

Book Notes on Book 2: The Fall

Concerning Jean Valjean:

He saw nothing of all this; people overwhelmed with trouble do not look behind; they know only too well that misfortune follows them. pg. 70

Jean Valjean entered the galleys sobbing and shuddering: he went out hardened; he entered in despair: he went out sullen. What had been the life of his soul? pg. 93

Anger may be foolish and absurd, an one may be irritated when in the wrong; but a man never feels outraged unless in some respect he is at bottom right. Jean Valjean felt outraged. pg. 95


Jean Valjean was not, as we have seen, of an evil nature. His heart was still right when he arrived in the galleys. While there he condemned society, and felt that he had become wicked; he condemned Providence and felt he had become impious. pg.96

When many diverse sensations have disturbed the day, when the mind is preoccupied, we can fall asleep once, but not a second time. Sleep comes at first much more readily than it comes again. Such was the case for Jean Valjean. He could not get to sleep, and so he began to think. pg. 103

Jean Valjean felt like a man who is just about to faint.
The bishop approached him, and said, in a low voice. "Forget not, never forget that you have promised me to use this silver to become an honest man."
Jean Valjean, who had no recollection of this promise, stood confounded. The bishop had laid much stress upon these words as he uttered them. He continued, solemnly:
"Jean Vajean, my brother: you belong no longer to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I am buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and from the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God!" pg. 112

He beheld his life, and it seemed to him horrible; his soul, and it seemed to him frightful. There was, however, a softened light upon that life and upon that soul. It seemed to him that he was looking upon Satan by the light of Paradise. pg. 119

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