[newheart]

Unless I am mistaken, Valjean is a fictional character. On its own (sorry they couldnt fit the entire zillion page novel into the play) the film is a brilliant story of the difference between law and grace. But judging from your relentless criticism one might conclude that you are descended from Inspector Javert.

[Tau Food]

Yes, Inspector Javert represented the law and the social glue which provided whatever stability existed in French society. Yet the author of this article expresses admiration for Valjean, who was a pervert, a thief and a guy who swam in raw sewage.

Toward the end of the novel, Javert chose death by suicide as preferable to having to face any more of Valjean's abominations. The sewage swim was probably the straw that broke the camel's back and represented the death of civilization. What was there left for Javert to live for?