Les Miserables is a story about all manner of love and hate, of national war and inner conflict, of anger and joy, wealth and debt, and ultimately of redemption, and I mean REDEMPTION. It dovetails perfectly with the gospel of Christ. The story is an epic interplay between justice and mercy, between law and grace, respresented by its two main characters: Jean Valjean and Javert.
Christ implores us to go beyond justice to mercy. He calls us to love our enemies, to care for the poor and free the oppressed. Jean Valjean, trying to escape his criminal past, converts to Christianity in both heart and philanthropic deed, but cannot escape the hunt of Inspector Javert, who is convinced he is doing God's work in seeing that justice is wrought and Valjean is returned to prison.
Our whole family is enamored with the story and has had many discussions about its themes. The 9 year old has only listened to the soundtrack as I explained the story, but the rest of us have watched the movie at least once. The conversations matter. Though we are not criminals and police, we are lawbreakers and judges. Everyday, we break God's law. Everyday we make judgments about right and wrong and which path to choose. Everyday we express or withhold love and mercy and grace. Everyday we receive those things from Christ.
We debate if Javert is bad or if he is just doing his job. We debate if Valjean is good since his whole identity is a lie and he is always running from the law. We discuss how the brokenness of the world sadly relegates people to class division and helplessness and how revolution can be so hard and heartbreaking.
There are parts of the movie that are difficult to watch...rape, prostitution, war, death. But if you sanitize the story, there is no great redemption, only another opportunity for the good Christian to live with his head in the sand. These sins are not glamorized, as Hollywood often likes to do, but are treated as the disgusting and awful things that they are. That is how I want my children exposed to these transgressions...by my side, in the context of Biblical worldview and gentle guidance, with a backdrop of some of the most beautiful and haunting melodies I've ever heard.
This story takes place 200 years ago in a foreign country with a political and social structure that is far removed from us. But it is ultimately universal in spirit and truth and I highly recommend it as Christian edification. And if you come to our house, I can just about guarantee that one of us is going to break out in a chorus of "Do You Hear the People Sing!" Just go with it.
I read all 1500 pages as a senior in high school, after I had seen it performed on stage the day before my birthday. I've been waiting for a copy to come available at the library, but it may be time to just go purchase my own. I don't remember the 60 pages on the sewers, but I remember the way it went so much deeper in the details, and how those connections just made me love the story more. For weeks after seeing the movie version I woke singing the songs. I cried both times I watched it, just as I had cried at the stage version, and as I read the book. Every day we find ourselves in the depths of this world's muck, fighting to find the right way, but continously running the wrong direction. Then step by step redemption comes through a God's mercy that lifts us to the light. None of us all good, none of us all bad, but all of us broken and lost without Him. Thank you for sharing your own love of this story.
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