#lm 1.6.2

[empressofkashyr]

So glad the real Jean Valjean has been arrested and Javert can get off Madeleine's back. I'm glad everything is going well and will continue to go well forever

[scuttleton]

LM 1.6.2

"How Jean May Become Champ"

I am intrigued by the italicizing here. Are we changing Jean's name to Champ.

Go get em, champ

Monsieur Madeleine was in his office one morning, dealing in advance – should he decide to make the journey to Montfermeil –

WDYM SHOULD HE???? I THOUGHT SOMEONE WAS BEING SENT, OR HE WAS GOING OR SOMETHING, WHAT HAPPENED

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE YOU IDIOT

when he was informed that Police Inspector Javert wished to speak to him. At the mention of this name Monsieur Madeleine could not help forming a disagreeable impression. Javert had avoided him more than ever since the unexpected turn of events at the police station, and Monsieur Madeleine had not seen him since. ‘Send him in,’ he said. Javert entered. Monsieur Madeleine remained seated by the fire,

Javert had the chance to learn how to sit by a fire and not ruin his coat and he wasted it

He did not bother to acknowledge Javert. He could not help thinking of poor Fantine and it suited him to be frosty.

I like that wording. It suited him to be frosty.

A physiognomist who might have been familiar with Javert’s character . . . who might have known of his secret and long-standing aversion to Monsieur Madeleine, his conflict with the mayor on the subject of Fantine, and who might have observed Javert at that moment, would have said to himself, ‘What has happened?’ It was obvious to anyone acquainted with that scrupulous, clear, genuine, upright, austere, fierce conscience that Javert had been through some great inner cataclysm.

Oh?

Javert had nothing in his soul that would not also have shown on his face. He was, in the way of violent people, given to abrupt changes of feeling. His physiognomy had never been more peculiar or more unexpected. On entering he bowed to Monsieur Madeleine with no resentment, anger or mistrust in his gaze. He halted a few paces behind the mayor’s armchair, and there he stood, in an almost chastened attitude, with the cold, naive boorishness of a man who has never been agreeable and has always been patient. Until it should please monsieur le maire to turn round, he waited in total silence, in total immobility, in genuine humility and tranquil resignation, calm, serious, with hat in hand, eyes downcast, and an expression that was something between that of a soldier in the presence of his officer and a criminal in the presence of his judge. All the sentiments and all the memories that it might have been supposed he harboured had disappeared. There was nothing now but a mournful sadness on that face as impenetrable and simple as granite. His whole person emanated abjection and determination, and some suggestion of brave defeat.

What in the heck happened

Why is he acting like a kicked and scolded dog

‘What I have to say, monsieur le maire, is that an unpardonable offence has been committed.’ ‘What offence?’ ‘A subordinate police officer has in the gravest manner shown lack of respect towards a magistrate. I’ve come to inform you of this fact as it is my duty to do so.’ ‘Who is this police officer?’ asked Monsieur Madeleine. ‘It is I,’ said Javert. ‘You?’ ‘I.’ ‘And which magistrate would have reason to complain of the officer?’ ‘You, monsieur le maire.’

HUH?

Monsieur Madeleine straightened up in his armchair. Looking stern, his eyes still lowered, Javert went on, ‘Monsieur le maire, I’ve come to ask if you would be so good as to start proceedings to have me dismissed from the police.’

HHAHAHAHAH HUHHHHH????

In his astonishment Monsieur Madeleine opened his mouth. Javert interrupted him. ‘You’ll say I could have handed in my resignation, but that’s not adequate. Resigning is honourable. I’ve done wrong, I should be punished. I must be sacked.’

Oh my stars he's really his Like That

And after a pause he added, ‘Monsieur le maire, you were unjustly hard on me the other day. Be justly hard today.’

HAHAHHAHHAHA

‘But why?’ exclaimed Monsieur Madeleine. ‘What is this gibberish? What’s the meaning of it? What offence have you committed against me? What have you done to me? In what way have you wronged me? You accuse yourself, you want to be replaced—’ ‘Sacked,’ said Javert. ‘Sacked, then. That’s all very well. I don’t understand.’ ‘You will, monsieur le maire.’ Javert gave the deepest of sighs and resumed, still coldly and sadly.

Bro acting like Eeyore

‘Monsieur le maire, six weeks ago, after that row about that woman, I was furious and I denounced you.’ ‘Denounced me!’ ‘To police headquarters in Paris.’ Monsieur Madeleine, who was not much more frequently given to laughter than Javert, began to laugh. ‘As a mayor who had encroached on police authority?’ ‘As an ex-convict.’

OHHH THE LETTER

Wait but like. What, did they tell him he's wrong because this dude is mayor and there's no evidence and scold him for it?????

‘I believed it. I had my suspicions for a long time. Don’t ask me why! Absurdities! A resemblance, some inquiries made at Faverolles on your behalf, your physical strength, the incident with old Fauchelevent, your shooting skills, your leg being a little lame – I don’t know, all sorts of ridiculous things. But the fact is I took you for a certain Jean Valjean.’

Does he just have memorized the name, appearance, and attributes of every single criminal that walks the streets

‘Jean Valjean. He was a convict I saw twenty years ago when I was assistant warder of the chain gangs at Toulon. After his release this Jean Valjean apparently robbed a bishop, then committed armed robbery on a public highway against a young Savoyard. He’s been lying low for the past eight years, no one knows how, and he was a wanted man … I had a notion … Anyway, that’s what I did! It was anger that decided me: I denounced you to police headquarters!’

WOW EVEN THE PETIT-GERVAIS THING HAS BEEN NOTED

But also hey now the bishop said he didn't rob him 😤

Monsieur Madeleine, who had picked up the file again a few moments earlier, spoke with an air of perfect indifference. ‘And what was their response?’ ‘That I was mad.’ ‘Well?’ ‘Well, they were right.’ ‘It’s a good thing you admit it.’

Javert: People in a higher position told me I was crazy so I must be so 😔

Val: .... Yeah sure totally 👍👍👍👍

‘I’m bound to, since the real Jean Valjean has been found.’

OH

Wait WHAT?

‘It’s like this, monsieur le maire. It seems there was in these parts, over towards Ailly-le-Haut-Clocher, some old fellow who went by the name of Père Champmathieu.

Oh there's the chapter title

Recently, last autumn, Père Champmathieu was arrested for the theft of some cider apples from – well, never mind that! There was a theft, a wall scaled, branches of a tree broken. . . . The gaol being in a poor state of repair, the examining magistrate considers it appropriate to have Champmathieu transferred to Arras, where the département’s central prison is. In this prison at Arras there’s an ex-convict named Brevet . . . Monsieur le maire, Champmathieu no sooner turns up than Brevet exclaims, “Hey! I know that man! He’s [an ex-convict]! Look at me, man! You’re Jean Valjean!” . . . ‘Champmathieu denies it. Of course he does! Further inquiries are made. The case is thoroughly investigated. These are the findings: some thirty years ago this Champmathieu was a tree-pruner in various localities, Faverolles among others. Then all trace of him is lost. A long time afterwards he’s seen again in the Auvergne, then in Paris where he is said to have been a cartwright and to have had a daughter who was a laundress. But there’s no proof of that. Now, before serving time with the chain gang for aggravated theft, what was Jean Valjean? A pruner of trees. Where? At Faverolles. Another fact. This Valjean’s Christian name was Jean and his mother’s maiden name was Mathieu. What could be more reasonable than to imagine that when he left prison he took his mother’s name in order to conceal his identity and called himself Jean Mathieu? He goes to the Auvergne. The local pronunciation turns “Jean” into “Chan”, he’s called Chan Mathieu. Our man offers no objection and there he is, transformed into Champmathieu. You follow me, don’t you?

Inquiries are made at Faverolles. Jean Valjean’s family’s no longer there. . . . And then, seeing as it’s thirty years since this whole story began there’s no one at Faverolles any more who knew Jean Valjean. Inquiries are made at Toulon. Apart from Brevet, there are only two convicts remaining who’ve seen Jean Valjean. . . . They’re brought face to face with the so-called Champmathieu. They don’t hesitate. For them, just as for Brevet, he’s Jean Valjean. The same age – he’s fifty-four – same height, same manner, in short the same man, it’s him. It was precisely at this point that I sent my denunciation to Paris police headquarters. I’m told I’m out of my mind, that Jean Valjean’s at Arras in the hands of the judiciary. You can imagine my surprise, when there was I thinking I had that same Jean Valjean here. I write to the examining judge. He sends for me, Champmathieu is brought before me—’ ‘And?’ Monsieur Madeleine interposed. Javert replied with his sad and incorruptible face, ‘Monsieur le maire, the truth’s the truth. I’m sorry but that man is Jean Valjean. I too recognized him.’

DANG

That's an insane number of coincidences

Monsieur Madeleine’s only reply to his entreaty was to ask this abrupt question: ‘And what does this man say?’ ‘Ah, well, monsieur le maire, he’s in serious trouble. If he is Jean Valjean, he’s guilty of re-offending. Climbing a wall, breaking a branch, pilfering apples,

🫵

for a child, is an act of mischief. For a man, it’s a misdemeanour. For an ex-convict it’s a crime. Trespass and robbery, that’s what we’re talking about. It’s no longer a minor offence, it’s a matter for the court of assizes. It’s no longer a few days in prison, it’s penal servitude for life. And then there’s the matter of the young Savoyard, who I very much hope will turn up again. Hang it! There’s good reason to put up a fight, isn’t there? Yes, for anyone but Jean Valjean. But Jean Valjean’s a cunning one. It’s there again that I recognize him. Any other man would have started to feel the heat. He’d kick up a fuss, he’d shout. The kettle sings on the fire. He wouldn’t want to be Jean Valjean, et cetera. But this fellow appears not to understand. He says, “I’m Champmathieu, that’s all I’ve got to say!” He looks bewildered, he pretends to be a simpleton, that’s far better. Oh, he’s a crafty rogue! But it makes no difference, the evidence is there. He’s been recognized by four people. The old villain will be found guilty. It’s been referred to the assizes at Arras. I’m going there to testify. I’ve been served a summons.’

Dang

We're back at the overturned cart all over again

‘That’s enough, Javert. All these details are in fact of very little interest to me. We’re wasting time and we have urgent matters to deal with. Javert, you’re to go at once to the house of Madame Buseaupied, who sells herbs down on the corner of Rue St-Saulve. Tell her to lodge an official complaint against the carter Pierre Chesnelong. The man’s a ruffian who almost ran over this woman and her child. He must be punished. You will then go to Monsieur Charcellay, Rue Montre-de-Champigny. He’s made a complaint about a gutter on the house next door that is pouring rainwater on to his premises and undermining the foundations of his house. After that, check on reported violations of police regulations in Rue Guibourg at the widow Doris’s place and in Rue du Garraud-Blanc at Madame Renée Le Bossé’s, and take down particulars. But I’m giving you a great deal of work there. Aren’t you going to be away? Didn’t you say you were going to Arras for that trial in a week or so?’

Did he give him that entire list just so he'd have an excuse to ask when the trial is

‘Why, I thought I told monsieur le maire the case was to be tried tomorrow and that I’m taking the coach tonight.’

You absolutely did not

Monsieur Madeleine gave a slight start. ‘And how long will the case go on for?’ ‘One day at the most. The judgement will be delivered no later than tomorrow evening. But I shan’t wait for the judgement, which is bound to be a guilty verdict. As soon as I’ve testified I’ll be coming back here.’

WE REALLY ARE AT THE CART ALL OVER AGAIN

And Val is just dismissing Javert 🤔 I guess if he gets arrested he won't be able to make sure that Fantine gets her kid back... How long does it take to get there to that inn? I don't suppose there's anyone in town he can trust to actually go make the trip for him...

Javert did not go away. ‘Excuse me, monsieur le maire,’ he said. ‘What is it now?’ asked Monsieur Madeleine. ‘Monsieur le maire, there’s still one thing I must remind you of.’ ‘What’s that?’ ‘I must be relieved of my duties.’ Monsieur Madeleine rose. ‘Javert, you’re a man of honour and I respect you. You exaggerate your misconduct. Besides, this is another offence relating to me. Javert, you deserve to rise, not fall. I intend to keep you in your post.’

Wow.. I can't really say I expected anything different because that would technically be in just and dishonest to dismiss him when he wasn't actually wrong... But.. wow

Javert said to him in a calm voice, ‘Monsieur le maire, I cannot agree to that.’ ‘I repeat,’ replied Monsieur Madeleine, ‘I’m the one affected by this, it’s for me to decide.’

HAHA we're back on this now too

But Javert single-mindedly kept on. ‘As for exaggerating, I don’t exaggerate at all. This is my reasoning: I suspected you unjustly. In itself, that’s nothing. It’s within our rights for the likes of us to be suspicious, although to suspect your betters is to overstep the mark. But with no proof, in a fit of rage, with the aim of gaining revenge, I denounced you as a convict – you, a respectable man, a mayor, a magistrate! This is serious. Very serious. I insulted the authority invested in your person, I, an agent of that authority! If one of my subordinates had done what I did, I’d have declared him unworthy of his job and sacked him. Well then? ‘Listen, monsieur le maire, one word more. I’ve often been harsh in my life. With others. It was just. I did the right thing. Now, if I were not harsh on myself, everything I did that was once just would become unjust. Should I spare myself more than others? No! What? I’d only be capable of disciplining others and not myself! But that would make me despicable! And those who say “that skunk Javert” would be right. Monsieur le maire, I’ve no wish for you to treat me kindly. I found your kindness galling enough when it was extended to others. I want none of it for myself.

THIS ENTIRE MONOLOGUE IS SENDING ME

This guy is so ridiculous it's hilarious

The kindness that consists in favouring a common prostitute over a gentleman, a policeman over the mayor, the man of low estate over the man of high estate, is what I call pernicious kindness. It’s kindness like that that creates disorder in society. Good Lord! It’s very easy to be kind, the difficult thing is to be just. Believe me, if you’d been what I thought you were, I certainly wouldn’t have been kind to you! You can be sure of that! Monsieur le maire, I must treat myself the same way I would treat anyone else. When I pursued criminals, when I dealt harshly with offenders, I often said to myself, “If ever you stumble, if ever I catch you doing wrong, you know what’s coming to you!” I stumbled, I’ve caught myself doing wrong, too bad! So let’s get on with it – dismissed, demoted, sacked! That’s fine. I’m able-bodied, I’ll work on the land, I don’t mind. Monsieur le maire, an example needs to be made for the good of the police force. I simply ask for Inspector Javert’s dismissal.’ All this was delivered in a humble, proud, hopeless and earnest tone of voice, which lent some sort of bizarre grandeur to this strange honest man.

I want to say, "at least he doesn't tolerate police corruption", except following the law to the letter without a single shred of understanding towards everyone the system affects is its own sort of corrupted issue, and blindly following those above him while believing they can do no wrong is another sort of corruption because it promotes and allows corruption to exist on those "upper levels", soooooo

So honestly he's being a major hypocrite in an extremely bizarre way

That aside, he has quite The knack for doing what feels adjacent to backhanded compliments somehow and yet are just straight up insults. There's not even a compliment woven in. He is just insulting Val but in such a weird way it doesn't quite feel like an outright insult.

‘We’ll see,’ said Monsieur Madeleine. And he held out his hand. Javert recoiled and said grimly, ‘Forgive me, monsieur le maire, but that cannot be allowed. A mayor does not offer his hand to a nark.’ He muttered, ‘A nark, yes. Seeing as I’ve played false with the police, I’ve become no more than a nark.’ Then he bowed deeply and made for the door.

HAHAHA I CAN'T WITH THIS GUY

Well, seeing as he's doing just fine working in Paris something must have happened

I have a hard time believing Val will let some other person pay for his crimes and serve for life for something he didn't do, so I assume Javert gets set straight somehow or other, but then how the heck does Val get away with it all too. He's got unfinished business here and now, and the trial is tomorrow. And then 8 years down the line he is possibly in Paris as well with Cosette, unless I am wrong in my theory. But with Javert in Paris, it only makes sense for that to be them because it would be the perfect setup to bring everybody back together...

I guess I'll find out

[pontmercii]

I wish there was a way to actually convey in english the transition between the plural and the singular verbs used by Javert depending on who he's speaking to. In french (and in my own native language, greek) we have this thing where, if we are addressing someone important, or even someone we respect, we have to address them as if they're mutliple people? Idk how to explain this in english. In english we just have "you", but in french we have two words for "you": "vous" (plural of "you") et "tu" (singular of "you"). But in greek culture we don't care about this that much and it is very common to talk to the waiter for example or to a stranger who is your age, in a normal way, not addressing them as if they're multiple people. And this doesn't necessarily mean you disrespect them or that you consider them inferior to you, it's just a sign of friendliness and familiarity.

But in France oh boy this is such a no no. If you address a stranger without respecting this formality it is so so deeply impolite. It's the equivalent of calling your Professor "bro". You just don't do it. However, if a state officer does it it's not just impolite, it's extremely offensive, it's perceived as an actual attack, which it is. It's saying "you are inferior, a second class citizen, and I will treat you as such and the state will treat you as such". And guess what, it still happens, but it happens almost exclusively to homeless people, immigrants or just non white people, mainly arabs and black people. These groups of people are often being addressed by the police for example as "one person" (singular of you) and not in plural, and it may sound ridiculous a to someone who is not familiar with that formality but here, it is an insidious but very real way of asserting authority over marginalized citizens while stripping them of their value and humanity.

And yeah Javert of course is extreeeemely polite to Valjean when he thinks he's Madeleine, because he's the Mayor, so he's a superior, so he addresses him using the plural form and of course he uses the singular form when talking to Fantine and of course he switches to singular form when he talks to Valjean later, once he discovers his real identity. This small detail really conveys how Javert treats Fantine and Valjean like actual flies that he can just squash with his boot. Also it should be noted that while Javert has started addressing Valjean in singular form, Valjean still continues to respect the formality, addressing him in plural. Perfect depiction of class hierarchy.

[pilferingapples]

Happy Unskippable Javert Cutscene Day to Those Who ...Celebrate...?

[secretmellowblog]

I love how inspector Javert literally says he’s Not Like Other Miserables:

“No. Heavens! If I was only good for chastising others and not myself, I’d be [un misérable] !”

Conclusion: Javert is a Pick-Me Miserable.

[bewareofitalics]

Finally Monsieur le maire put down his pen and half turned round: “Well, what? What’s up, Javert?” Javert remained silent for a moment as though gathering his wits; then he spoke up with a sort of sad solemnity, which was nonetheless straightforward: “What’s up, Monsieur le maire, is that a criminal act has been committed.”

The way Rose translated this, I think mostly because of the "What's up," made me hear Javert's dialogue as spoken by Chauncey Badminton from Our Flag Means Death. So now I really want to see Rory Kinnear as Javert - given a good script, I bet he'd be great. And while he is of course perfectly capable of playing actual drama, I think the deadly-serious-but-in-a-funny-way energy he brought to Chauncey could work well for some bits!

[ineffable-gallimaufry]

Hi guys! I'm breaking out the proper caps and smart quotes real quick because I want to talk about some parallels between LM 1.6.2 (How Jean May Become Champ) and LM 1.8.3 (Javert Satisfied) & 1.8.4 (Authority Reasserts Its Rights)! It's that time of year and I realized I wrote this in a book review that I deleted and not anywhere for real on Tumblr. With that said, it's looking at quotes time!

1.6.2: “If any physiognomist who had been familiar with Javert, [...] he would have said to himself, “What has taken place?” It was evident to any one acquainted with that clear, upright, sincere, honest, austere, and ferocious conscience, that Javert had but just gone through some great interior struggle.”

1.8.3: “Any one who was thoroughly acquainted with him, and who had examined him attentively at the moment, would have shuddered. The buckle of his leather stock was under his left ear instead of at the nape of his neck. This betrayed unwonted agitation. [...] That he should have set the buckle of his stock awry, it was indispensable that there should have taken place in him one of those emotions which may be designated as internal earthquakes.”

This is a neat parallel because we're seeing in both chapters an idea that someone who really understood Javert (which... there really is no one now that I think about it) they would see his inner turmoil on plain display. In the first, however, we see the start of the turmoil which has ended in Javert concluding he has erred; in the second, we see the full conclusion of this turmoil with triumph. Yet, we still see how his triumph has caused him to be sloppy in a sense, which is interesting... I don't have anything more to say about it, sorry. It's just interesting.

LM 1.6.2: “...he waited without uttering a word, without making a movement, in genuine humility and tranquil resignation, calm, serious, hat in hand, with eyes cast down, and an expression which was half-way between that of a soldier in the presence of his officer and a criminal in the presence of his judge, until it should please the mayor to turn round.”

LM 1.8.3: “Properly speaking, he did not enter. He stood erect in the half-open door, his hat on his head and his left hand thrust into his coat, which was buttoned up to the chin. In the bend of his elbow the leaden head of his enormous cane, which was hidden behind him, could be seen. Thus he remained for nearly a minute, without his presence being perceived. All at once Fantine raised her eyes, saw him, and made M. Madeleine turn round.”

And here we see Javert's dramatic entrance skills at work! (jk, that's in 3.8.20, these two are actually kinda bad) In both chapters, even though he's at completely different ends of the Javert feeling spectrum (until it expands in 5.4.1 but that's irrelevant) he enters quietly and waits to be noticed, though for completely different reasons.

1.6.2: “All the sentiments as well as all the memories which one might have attributed to him had disappeared. That face, as impenetrable and simple as granite, no longer bore any trace of anything but a melancholy depression.”

1.8.3: “The satisfaction of at last getting hold of Jean Valjean caused all that was in his soul to appear in his countenance. The humiliation of having, in some slight degree, lost the scent, and of having indulged, for a few moments, in an error with regard to Champmathieu, was effaced by pride at having so well and accurately divined in the first place, and of having for so long cherished a just instinct. Javert’s content shone forth in his sovereign attitude. The deformity of triumph overspread that narrow brow. All the demonstrations of horror which a satisfied face can afford were there.”

More contrast between how Javert looks in these scenes! This is particularly interesting in regards to the turmoil mentioned above as Javert having gone through that heavy inner turmoil in 1.6.2 only helps to enhance his pride at being right the whole time. It's also really interesting how we see Javert's melancholy described throughout 1.6.2 as making him humble and dignified, especially in contrast to how horrifying his joy is in 1.8.3.

1.6.2: “His whole person breathed lowliness and firmness and an indescribable courageous despondency.”

1.8.3: “Javert was in heaven at that moment. Without putting the thing clearly to himself, but with a confused intuition of the necessity of his presence and of his success, he, Javert, personified justice, light, and truth in their celestial function of crushing out evil. Behind him and around him, at an infinite distance, he had authority, reason, the case judged, the legal conscience, the public prosecution, all the stars; he was protecting order, he was causing the law to yield up its thunders, he was avenging society, he was lending a helping hand to the absolute, he was standing erect in the midst of a glory. There existed in his victory a remnant of defiance and of combat. Erect, haughty, brilliant, he flaunted abroad in open day the superhuman bestiality of a ferocious archangel. The terrible shadow of the action which he was accomplishing caused the vague flash of the social sword to be visible in his clenched fist; happy and indignant, he held his heel upon crime, vice, rebellion, perdition, hell; he was radiant, he exterminated, he smiled, and there was an incontestable grandeur in this monstrous Saint Michael.”

This is like... quite possibly the most interesting part of the 1.6.2/1.8.3 parallels to me. In our first chapter, Javert is humble and specifically lowly; in our second one, he is grand and terrible. It's also fascinating how Javert goes from being lowly and nothing more than a police spy to having these contrasting motifs of being in heaven/the monstrous Saint Michael and being "a demon who has found his damned soul" earlier within this same chapter. Really interesting how he's able to be described as both a demon and an angel within a few lines of each other (cue joke about "I could be your angel or your devil") which are both very grand ideas. He's got this cognitive dissonance pretty obviously which will come back to bite him later, but he's also becoming The Law rather than being against it. Very triumphant; very interesting to look at the difference between him in the two scenes specifically here.

1.6.2: “Javert recoiled, and said in a wild voice:—

‘Excuse me, M. le Maire, but this must not be. A mayor does not offer his hand to a police spy.’

He added between his teeth:—

‘A police spy, yes; from the moment when I have misused the police. I am no more than a police spy.’”

1.8.4 (Authority Reasserts its Rights): “‘I tell you that there is no Monsieur Madeleine and that there is no Monsieur le Maire. There is a thief, a brigand, a convict named Jean Valjean! And I have him in my grasp! That’s what there is!’”

Although Javert is talking about himself vs Valjean here, there is an interesting opinion that really strikes at the heart of Javert's ideology in both. In both, the respect afforded to each by their positions is made to be superseded by the other when a line is crossed and a law is broken. Javert isn't worthy of being offered a hand because the second he misused his office, he becomes nothing more than a police spy. Valjean is treated in the same way; there is no longer a M. Madeleine or a M. le Maire because the second his crimes are known he's nothing more than a convict. It shows us very effectively how Javert (& by extension the law) doesn't see criminals as people, since their crime takes precedent over who they are.

1.6.2: “‘M. le Maire, there is still something of which I must remind you.’

‘What is it?’

‘That I must be dismissed.’ M. Madeleine rose.

‘Javert, you are a man of honor, and I esteem you. You exaggerate your fault. Moreover, this is an offence which concerns me. Javert, you deserve promotion instead of degradation. I wish you to retain your post.’

Javert gazed at M. Madeleine with his candid eyes, in whose depths his not very enlightened but pure and rigid conscience seemed visible, and said in a tranquil voice:—

‘M. le Maire, I cannot grant you that.’”

1.8.4: “Jean Valjean went on in a lower tone:—

‘I have a request to make of you—’

‘I tell you to speak loud.’

‘But you alone should hear it—’

‘What difference does that make to me? I shall not listen.’”

Here we see Javert's stubbornness on full display, really exemplifying the rigidity of the law. Even when Valjean wants him to stay in his office, he can't allow it. When Valjean wants to talk to him, he will not listen. I think this also shows the prejudice in the legal system via Javert, because no matter what, he does not listen, only persecuting blindly.

Anyways! Those were just some notes and parallels but I would love to hear your thoughts. Great line up of chapters here from Hugo, fr.

[urcadelima]