Teacher With Student Doing Independent Study

[WJMS-Teacher1]

Hi!

I have a student in my class that has taken on the reading of Les Miserables. As part of his study, he will be posting questions and responses to questions concerning Les Miserables and would like to invite discussion from outside so that he can share his ideas and view others' thoughts on the book.

Thank you so much for helping to provide a richer and more academic atmosphere for this junior high student!

[WJMS-Teacher1]

What do you think drove the Bishop to become the man he is?





What purpose do you think the Bishop serves in the story of Les Miserable?

[WJMS]

He may see some of him in Jean Valjean or some thing is sparking that is telling him to give this man a second chance.

[WJMS]

I have some questions of my own I'm reading Les Mis and I would like to have a response from you on these following questions.

1.Was Jean V. act of thievary justified under the period of time?

2.How did Madame Mangloire meet up with the bishop was she once a women of sin?

[Ron Alphin]

Since you are a teacher, versed in the structure of this book, perhaps you can answer the question I posted in my "thread" today. What did Hugo mean by "Love is the foolishness of men, and the wisdom of God." The thread is entitled "difficult quotation." Thank you.

[bazarov]

I have some questions of my own I'm reading Les Mis and I would like to have a response from you on these following questions.

1.Was Jean V. act of thievary justified under the period of time?



Yes. Otherwise, he would be dead.


What did Hugo mean by "Love is the foolishness of men, and the wisdom of God." The thread is entitled "difficult quotation." Thank you.

Too many foolish things and wrong acts people do because of love and for love; and every good thing God is doing is doing because of his love for humans.

[Marktep]

What do you think drove the Bishop to become the man he is?





What purpose do you think the Bishop serves in the story of Les Miserable?
This book has a very special place in my heart and I treat it as an attempt toward a literary proof of the existence of God. Through the encounter between Valjean and the Bishop, Hugo gives his first example of how good triumphs over even the most deeply rooted and resentful evil. As the saying goes, "God is love". The bishop's pure and God-like love shines a spirtual light so bright it enthralls even Valjean's dark soul. Interestingly to me, one can make the argument that for Valjean's transfiguration to occur, it required a high degree of evil and hate from Valjean. In other words, the bishop's actions would not have had the same effect on Valjean had he not been through his terrible ordeal. It seems like a paradox in one sense, while being an enigamtic blessing in another. Hugo obviously has great faith in God and tries to show how God works and can be seen in our lives. This thinking is contrary to much popular skepticism in the 19th century exemplified by philosophers such as Voltaire, who Hugo mentions often with criticism and disdain. The bishop's abscence of any fear toward Valjean and his aloofness of being robbed exemplify a total devotion to faith and the gratification such faith can bring. Thinking of the bishop this way, it is interesting to debate whether Hugo believes that any person can be transfigured as Valjean was. Hugo gives plenty of examples of characters exemplifying "pure evil". Does Hugo believe pure evil exists to some degree no matter what, or does he think evil can be conquered in its entirety?

[Shya]

Hello! I read Les Mis (the unabridged paperback translation) last year, when I was in 7th grade too! I'm in 8th grade now. :) Nice to meet you.

I think that Jean Valjean's act of theivary was justified, since he stole because of hunger and starving kids. And it was just a loaf of bread, so prison was a harsh punishment. Anyhow, as Marius says to Thenardier later in the book, "Are you speaking...of that petty theft of forty years ago, expiated, as your newspapers show, by a whole life of repentance, abnegation, and virtue?"

[TheGirlStumbles]

I would like to hear people's opinions regarding the chapter 'The Bishop at Work',
I know this isn't exactly a question but it would help me to better understand the chapter if I read other views.
:)