Eeeeeh um you can consider javerts absence at the finale due to the deeply religious themes which would conclude his possible or metaphoric descent into hell. There's an intended irony in the fact that javert worked endlessly to achieve redemption only by following the rules (i.e.: the law, and avoidance of sin kind of) but his final act is in fact one of the greatest crimes against God. He was a slave to his dogma and salvation was unachievable in his failure to act for himself. He realizes the battle for redemption is not in rule following but making the choices that are difficult. That final act is the moment where he makes a choice for himself and acts independently. By committing suicide he is going against everything he had previously stood for while gaining both freedom and condemnation at the same time. In a sense he is both punishing himself as much as he is setting himself free. Valjeans epiphany brought to life the beginning of his story, while javerts ultimately brings his to an end . (This is just a lot of opinion word vomit and a gentle bit of analysis I've whipped up on my own time with help of a few educators both learned in the religious and nonreligious themes within the novel. I figured I would share for the hell of it) :)
I have been a lifelong Les Mis fan. I was always told that the true tragedy of Javert is that he spent most of his life, sending people to prison on technicalities only to have his own soul damned on a technicality (he lives most of his life well but Cathy Church, at The time did not allow for wiggle room with s$$cide)
Great Video. I agree with you, that always bothered me about the movie. It’s so sad most people wouldn’t have noticed, He is a complex character with a motive and character growth. The movie didn’t explore him as much as I would of liked
Heck yeah, some good Javert analysis! I always need more of this, tbh. I don't think Javert being absent due to being in Hell would be consistent with the themes of that ending. Valjean ended up right, and it was intentions that decide most of it. Javert held no love for anyone even an inch to the wrong side of the law, but he always acted as honorably and consistently as he knew how. When proven wrong, as you said he takes steps to make sure that in his absence things _will_ become better. He never _intended_ anything beyond keeping order and light, even when he was so blatantly not doing the right thing in the eyes of anyone outside of his head. Therefor, I think he's merely in Purgatory at show's end. He stumbled, but as the God presented in Les Mis is one of mostly intent, then he may do his time to atone in Purgatory and then finally rest.
Mercy is a strongpoint in Christianity, Javert lacked this on top of that, he killed himself so because god couldn’t show mercy on Javert and let him go to heaven, he let him go to hell. Sad and ironic
Tides of Glory yes but maybe it was done the way I think, maybe to put god in the perspective of people in the 1800’s France, where god might have been taught to be stricter?
So, I actually used D&D logic. I compared the characters, (look up character alignment if you're not sure what I mean.) But the first time I did this, I saw him as chaotic good.. Seeing this, I see him as the same thing, really. But I'd like to hear other's views.
Maybe Javert doesn't make it to heaven because he committed suicide? I mean, in Catholicism isn't it the case that if we kill ourselves we are damned to hell? Then again, one of the main themes of Les Mis is mercy and forgiveness, why doesn't Javert deserve mercy?
Thank you! My class has been having the debate of whether or not Javert is a good person! I showed my teacher this video and she really liked it!
Kinner Nittor I’m flattered by the praise. What class?
Javert is one of the greatest fictional characters ever created
Javert is my favorite character in the musical. I just love him
same.
Eeeeeh um you can consider javerts absence at the finale due to the deeply religious themes which would conclude his possible or metaphoric descent into hell. There's an intended irony in the fact that javert worked endlessly to achieve redemption only by following the rules (i.e.: the law, and avoidance of sin kind of) but his final act is in fact one of the greatest crimes against God. He was a slave to his dogma and salvation was unachievable in his failure to act for himself. He realizes the battle for redemption is not in rule following but making the choices that are difficult. That final act is the moment where he makes a choice for himself and acts independently. By committing suicide he is going against everything he had previously stood for while gaining both freedom and condemnation at the same time. In a sense he is both punishing himself as much as he is setting himself free. Valjeans epiphany brought to life the beginning of his story, while javerts ultimately brings his to an end . (This is just a lot of opinion word vomit and a gentle bit of analysis I've whipped up on my own time with help of a few educators both learned in the religious and nonreligious themes within the novel. I figured I would share for the hell of it) :)
I have been a lifelong Les Mis fan. I was always told that the true tragedy of Javert is that he spent most of his life, sending people to prison on technicalities only to have his own soul damned on a technicality (he lives most of his life well but Cathy Church, at The time did not allow for wiggle room with s$$cide)
This was a very good video, keep making them!
So fascinating that in the beginning, Jean Valjean was a vicious, hate-filled man, and in the end, he was a benevolent, saintly, compassionate man
Great Video. I agree with you, that always bothered me about the movie. It’s so sad most people wouldn’t have noticed, He is a complex character with a motive and character growth. The movie didn’t explore him as much as I would of liked
Javert is a character I found as a man who was once good that found himself being blinded to justice in his pursuit of law.
Holy crap this video was amazing
1:50 That’s what I was thinking! Also, excellent interpretation on Javert’s character :)
Heck yeah, some good Javert analysis! I always need more of this, tbh.
I don't think Javert being absent due to being in Hell would be consistent with the themes of that ending. Valjean ended up right, and it was intentions that decide most of it. Javert held no love for anyone even an inch to the wrong side of the law, but he always acted as honorably and consistently as he knew how. When proven wrong, as you said he takes steps to make sure that in his absence things _will_ become better. He never _intended_ anything beyond keeping order and light, even when he was so blatantly not doing the right thing in the eyes of anyone outside of his head. Therefor, I think he's merely in Purgatory at show's end. He stumbled, but as the God presented in Les Mis is one of mostly intent, then he may do his time to atone in Purgatory and then finally rest.
Mercy is a strongpoint in Christianity, Javert lacked this on top of that, he killed himself so because god couldn’t show mercy on Javert and let him go to heaven, he let him go to hell. Sad and ironic
I would argue that Gods more merciful than that. That he doesn't just expect mercy, but practices it himself. But that's my interpretation.
Tides of Glory yes but maybe it was done the way I think, maybe to put god in the perspective of people in the 1800’s France, where god might have been taught to be stricter?
This was super useful! Thank you!
So, I actually used D&D logic. I compared the characters, (look up character alignment if you're not sure what I mean.) But the first time I did this, I saw him as chaotic good.. Seeing this, I see him as the same thing, really. But I'd like to hear other's views.
Thank you
Maybe Javert doesn't make it to heaven because he committed suicide? I mean, in Catholicism isn't it the case that if we kill ourselves we are damned to hell? Then again, one of the main themes of Les Mis is mercy and forgiveness, why doesn't Javert deserve mercy?