Charity
Blog Post #3
Topic D
May 1, 2015
By: Caitlin Cook
Common themes that have been recurring in Les Miserables are the themes of charity and poverty. These themes come with one another and help the other exist. To begin, both Jean Valjean and Marius grow up in poverty. They struggle day to day but worke to escape this poverty. Later on, they help other people suffering from poverty by giving them charity. They do not focus on this charity work because they are rich with extra money to share, but they help because they truly want to help these other people lives. This shows that the work of charity comes from putting others first and working to help them. For example, when a needy girl came to Marius’s door to ask for help he “gave the five francs” to her, leaving himself with very little money left (204). Therefore, even though Marius might not have had much to give he put the need of this girl before his own, and gave her the money. This act of selflessness by Marius allows charity to occur and help people out. There are many characters in this novel that face poverty, and with the acts of charity by those that are able, it helps out many of these people. To conclude, with the existence of poverty those who give charity are help the others around them.
I really like how Caitlin compared Jean Valjean and Marius' past to how they are today. It's true that both Marius and Jean Valjean grew up in poverty, but they didn't let that affect them. Instead they worked that much harder and became successful businessmen. They know what it's like to be poor and hopeless so they are going to do their part and help others so that don't have to feel alone anymore. I believe that what you experience in your past shapes you into who you are today, and I truly believe that jean Valjean and Marius and two great examples of this.
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