Character guide

Jean Valjean

major

Also known as Monsieur Madeleine, Ultime Fauchelevent, M. Leblanc, the prisoner, the stranger, the man whom all the country of Montreuil-sur-Mer called M. Madeleine

Ex-convict who becomes a mayor and factory owner, then devotes his life to raising Cosette.

Marius Pontmercy

major

Also known as M. Marius, little Marius, M. Pontmercy, Pontmercy, Mr. Marius, Poor Mr. Marius

A young lawyer who falls in love with Cosette and becomes involved in the 1832 rebellion.

Cosette

major

Also known as little Cosette, Poor Cosette, Euphrasie, Mademoiselle Euphrasie Fauchelevent, the young girl

The abused daughter of Fantine, adopted by Jean Valjean, later Marius's wife.

Javert

major

Also known as Police Officer Javert, Inspector Javert, Police Inspector Javert, Monsieur Javert

A relentless police inspector who pursues Jean Valjean across decades.

Fantine

major

Also known as little Fantine, poor Fantine

A young woman forced into prostitution to support her daughter Cosette.

Gavroche

supporting

Also known as Little Gavroche, little Gavroche, Monsieur Gavroche

A street urchin and the abandoned son of the Thénardiers, who joins the rebellion.

Thénardier

supporting

Also known as Monsieur Thénardier, Jondrette, Fabantou

A greedy innkeeper and criminal who exploits Cosette and later schemes in Paris.

Madame Thénardier

supporting

Also known as Madame, Mother Thénardier

The cruel wife of Thénardier who abuses Cosette as a child.

Éponine

supporting

Also known as Thénardier, the Thénardier, Ponine

The Thénardiers' elder daughter, who secretly loves Marius and helps him.

Enjolras

supporting

Also known as VI Enjolras, Shadow Enjolras

The charismatic leader of the student revolutionaries at the barricade.

M. Mabeuf

supporting

Also known as Mabeuf, Father Mabeuf

An elderly, impoverished gardener and friend of Marius who dies at the barricade.

Father Fauchelevent

supporting

Also known as Fauchelevent, old Fauchelevent, Ultime Fauchelevent, Goodman Fauchelevent

A gardener at the convent where Jean Valjean and Cosette hide.

M. Gillenormand

supporting

Also known as Luc-Esprit, M. Luc-Esprit Gillenormand, Father Gillenormand, old Gillenormand

Marius's conservative, aristocratic grandfather who raises him.

Monseigneur Bienvenu

supporting

Also known as Monseigneur Bienvenu, Bienvenu, the Bishop, M. Charles-François-Bienvenu Myriel, M. Myriel, Charles Myriel

The saintly Bishop of Digne who shows Jean Valjean mercy and sets him on a new path.

Grantaire

minor

Also known as R. Grantaire, gib Grantaire

A cynical, drunken student revolutionary and friend of Enjolras.

Courfeyrac

minor

Also known as plain Courfeyrac, Monsieur Courfeyrac, Monsieur de Courfeyrac

A cheerful student revolutionary and close friend of Marius.

Combeferre

minor

A thoughtful, philosophical student revolutionary and second-in-command to Enjolras.

Feuilly

minor

Also known as Bossuet, Joly

A working-class student revolutionary and passionate republican.

Bossuet

minor

Also known as Laigle de Meaux, Laigle, Meaux

A cheerful, unlucky student revolutionary and friend of the group.

Joly

minor

A hypochondriac medical student and revolutionary.

Bahorel

minor

A dandyish student revolutionary with a taste for adventure.

Jean Prouvaire

minor

Also known as Prouvaire, Jeanne

A poetic student revolutionary who dies at the barricade.

Montparnasse

minor

A young, elegant member of the Patron-Minette criminal gang.

Babet

minor

Also known as Monsieur Babet

A member of the Patron-Minette criminal gang.

Gueulemer

minor

Also known as Guelemer, Monsieur Guelemer

A strong, brutish member of the Patron-Minette gang.

Claquesous

minor

Also known as Monsieur Claquesous

A masked member of the Patron-Minette gang who also works as a spy.

Brujon

minor

Also known as Monsieur Brujon

A young, cunning member of the Patron-Minette gang.

Azelma

minor

Also known as Zelma

The younger daughter of the Thénardiers.

Tholomyès

minor

Also known as Félix Tholomyès, Félix, M. Félix Tholomyès

Fantine's wealthy, callous lover who abandons her.

Favorite

minor

Also known as O Favorite

One of Fantine's friends in Paris, a grisette.

Dahlia

minor

Also known as Miss Dahlia

One of Fantine's friends in Paris, a grisette.

Zéphine

minor

One of Fantine's friends in Paris, a grisette.

Blachevelle

minor

One of Tholomyès's friends, a student.

Listolier

minor

One of Tholomyès's friends, a student.

Fameuil

minor

One of Tholomyès's friends, a student.

Madame Magloire

minor

Also known as Madam Magloire

The Bishop of Digne's devoted housekeeper.

Mademoiselle Baptistine

minor

Also known as Baptistine

The Bishop of Digne's gentle, pious sister.

Little Gervais

minor

Also known as little Gervais

A young Savoyard boy from whom Jean Valjean steals a coin.

Champmathieu

minor

Also known as Father Champmathieu, the pretended Champmathieu

A poor man mistakenly arrested as Jean Valjean.

Madame Victurnien

minor

Also known as VIII Madame Victurnien

A gossipy woman who exposes Fantine's past, leading to her dismissal.

Sister Simplice

minor

Also known as Simplice, VI Sister Simplice

A nun who nurses Fantine and later helps Jean Valjean.

Mademoiselle Gillenormand

minor

Also known as Mademoiselle Gillenormand the, IV Mademoiselle Gillenormand, Aunt Gillenormand

Marius's spinster aunt who lives with his grandfather.

Théodule

minor

Also known as Lieutenant Théodule Gillenormand, Lieutenant Théodule, Lieutenant Gillenormand

Marius's cousin, a vain and shallow officer.

Basque

minor

Also known as V Basque, honest Basque

The Gillenormand family's loyal valet.

Nicolette

minor

The Gillenormand family's maid.

Toussaint

minor

Also known as poor old Toussaint, Old Toussaint

Jean Valjean and Cosette's loyal servant in Paris.

Boulatruelle

minor

Also known as Sieur Boulatruelle

A former road-mender turned suspicious peasant in Montfermeil.

Father Mestienne

minor

Also known as Mestienne

The gravedigger at Père-Lachaise who helps Fauchelevent.

Gribier

minor

Also known as this Gribier, gravedigger Gribier

The gravedigger who replaces Mestienne at the convent.

Mother Crucifixion

minor

Also known as reverend Mother, Mother

The prioress of the Petit-Picpus convent.

Mother Ascension

minor

Also known as reverend Mother

A nun at the Petit-Picpus convent.

Sister Euphrasie

minor

Also known as Euphrasie

A nun at the Petit-Picpus convent.

Marguerite

minor

Also known as Marguerite de Blemeur, de Blemeur

A kind neighbor who helps Fantine in Montreuil-sur-Mer.

Master Scaufflaire

minor

Also known as this Scaufflaire, Scaufflaire, Monsieur Scaufflaire

A coachman who rents Jean Valjean a carriage.

Brevet

minor

Also known as Cochepaille

A former convict who testifies at Champmathieu's trial.

Chenildieu

minor

A former convict who testifies at Champmathieu's trial.

Cochepaille

minor

A former convict who testifies at Champmathieu's trial.

Ma'am Bougon

minor

Also known as Bougon, old Bougon

The miserly landlady of the Gorbeau tenement where Marius lives.

Mother Plutarque

minor

Also known as Mother

M. Mabeuf's elderly housekeeper.

Father Hucheloup

minor

Also known as Hucheloup, the Widow Hucheloup, Mame Hucheloup, Mother Hucheloup

The owner of the Corinthe café, a meeting place for revolutionaries.

Gibelotte

minor

A waitress at the Corinthe café.

Matelote

minor

A waitress at the Corinthe café.

Le Cabuc

minor

Also known as This Cabuc, Cabuc

A violent man at the barricade who is executed by Enjolras.

Father Mabeuf

minor

Also known as Mabeuf

M. Mabeuf's brother, a gardener.

Father Fauvent

minor

Also known as Fauvent

A gardener at the convent, possibly related to Fauchelevent.

The Magnon

minor

Also known as Magnon, This Magnon

A woman who falsely claims to be the mother of the Thénardiers' sons.

Georges Pontmercy

minor

Also known as Pontmercy, Colonel Baron Pontmercy, Colonel Pontmercy

Marius's father, a heroic colonel under Napoleon.

Madame Pontmercy

minor

Also known as Madame la Baronne de Pontmercy, Madame la Baronne

Marius's mother, who dies when he is young.

M. Bamatabois

minor

Also known as XII M. Bamatabois

A dandy who harasses Fantine on the street.

Laffitte

minor

Also known as M. Laffitte

The banker who holds Jean Valjean's fortune.

M. Madeleine

minor

Also known as Madeleine, IV M. Madeleine, Mirror M. Madeleine, Father Madeleine, Monsieur Madeleine

The alias Jean Valjean uses as mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer.

M. Leblanc

minor

Also known as Leblanc, Neither M. Leblanc, Monsieur Leblanc

The alias Jean Valjean uses in Paris while living with Cosette.

M. Fauchelevent

minor

Also known as That M. Fauchelevent, This M. Fauchelevent, the Fauchelevent, Monsieur Fauchelevent

The alias Jean Valjean uses after leaving the convent.

Madame Albertine

minor

A neighbor of the Jondrette family.

Ursule

minor

The name Marius gives to Cosette before he knows her real name.

The Lark

minor

Also known as The poor Lark, the Lark

The nickname given to Cosette by the people of Montfermeil.

Bigrenaille

minor

A member of the Patron-Minette gang.

Panchaud

minor

Also known as This Panchaud

A member of the Patron-Minette gang.

Printanier

minor

A member of the Patron-Minette gang.

Mademoiselle Vaubois

minor

A friend of Mademoiselle Gillenormand.

Mademoiselle Bouchard

minor

A woman who lives in the Gorbeau tenement.

Mademoiselle Fabre

minor

A friend of Mademoiselle Gillenormand.