Les Misérables · Chapter
The Remarks of the Principal Tenant explained
Jean Valjean lives quietly with Cosette, going out only at dusk and avoiding attention.
What happens
Jean Valjean lives quietly with Cosette, going out only at dusk and avoiding attention. He is known in the neighborhood as a beggar who gives alms, but the principal tenant, a nosy old woman, becomes suspicious after seeing him retrieve a thousand-franc note from his coat lining. She later examines his coat and finds evidence of hidden money and wigs, fueling her suspicions.
Themes in this chapter
Suffering and Sacrifice
Jean Valjean lives in modest circumstances and secretly gives alms, sacrificing his own comfort for others.
The Human Condition and Fate
The constant vigilance and secrecy required for Valjean's survival illustrate the precariousness of life for those with a hidden past.
Characters to notice
- Jean Valjean
Lives cautiously with Cosette, goes out only at dusk, gives alms secretly, and hides money in his coat lining.
- Cosette
Enjoys walking with Jean Valjean and is described as a very gay little person; she knows nothing of her past except that she came from Montfermeil.
- Thénardier
Referenced indirectly through Cosette's mention of Montfermeil, where she was mistreated.
Key passages
“He held her hand as they walked, and said sweet things to her. It turned out that Cosette was a very gay little person.”
He held her hand while they walked and spoke kindly to her, revealing that Cosette was a cheerful child.
Shows the tender relationship between Valjean and Cosette.
“He began to be known in the neighborhood under the name of 'the beggar who gives alms.'”
He became known locally as the beggar who gives money to others.
Highlights Valjean's secret charity and the irony of his reputation.