LesMis~ Blog Post 3~ Topic C~ May 1, 2015~ by Ali Cepon

Ali Cepon

Ms.Molyneaux

H. English, Per.B

May 1, 2015

A Sour Relationship

In the beginning of Les Misérables the Thénardiers take in Fantine’s daughter, Cosette. They “look upon the little girl as a child which they sheltered for charity, and they treated her as such…she became the servant of the house” (46-47).  Jean Valjean doesn’t really know the Thénardiers. All he knows is that they have Fantine’s daughter, and that he promises Fantine that he will get her her daughter. “Jean Valjean had rescued Cosette from the clutchesof the Thénardiers” (118). Once he fulfills his promise he never sees the Thénardiers again. They really don’t have a relationship with each other except that Jean Valjean takes their maid from them.  Many years after Jean Valjean takes Cosette away from the Thénardiers they have another encounter. This time the Thénardiers have a sour feeling towards Jean Valjean because he took away their “Lark” (222). The Thénardiers and Jean Valjean haven’t seen each other for many years, and all these years the Thénardiers have been holding their anger in and waiting for revenge.  When the Thénardiers, now known as the Jondrette’s, see a man they believe is Jean Valjean they seize the opportunity to get revenge. What they want from Jean Valjean is Cosette, and after they get Cosette the plan is “to kill him” (230). The relationship between Jean Valjean and the Thénardiers starts off as absolutely nothing, but as time passes so do feelings. Their relationship turns into a life or death situation where Jean Valjean is the one who is suppose to lose this time around. Hatred held in for many years can be a big cause for a sour relationship or feeling towards one, and this is what happens to the Thénardiers and Jean Valjean.