Les Misérables · Chapter
An Entrance by Favor explained
Mayor Madeleine, tormented by his conscience, hesitates before entering the courtroom where an innocent man is on trial.
What happens
Mayor Madeleine, tormented by his conscience, hesitates before entering the courtroom where an innocent man is on trial. After a moment of inner struggle, he decides to proceed and is granted entry by the President of the Court of Assizes, who recognizes his reputation for virtue and benevolence.
Themes in this chapter
Justice vs. Law
Valjean's internal conflict highlights the tension between legal justice and moral righteousness as he contemplates revealing his identity to save an innocent man.
Redemption and Transformation
Valjean's struggle to do the right thing reflects his ongoing transformation from a hardened ex-convict to a man of conscience.
Characters to notice
- Jean Valjean
Struggling with his conscience as he prepares to enter the courtroom, torn between his desire to flee and his duty to reveal the truth.
Key passages
“He read it without paying any attention to it, and unconsciously. He was thinking of Fantine and Cosette.”
Though his eyes scanned the letter, his mind was elsewhere, preoccupied with thoughts of Fantine and Cosette.
Valjean's distraction reveals his deep emotional ties to Fantine and Cosette, even in a moment of crisis.
“He crushed the paper in his hand as though those words contained for him a strange and bitter aftertaste.”
He crumpled the paper, as if the respectful greeting from the President tasted bitter and unsettling.
The honor shown to him by the President intensifies Valjean's inner turmoil, as he feels unworthy of such respect.