# Les Misérables — Character guide

> Key figures in Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

- [Jean Valjean](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/jean_valjean.md): Ex-convict who becomes a mayor and factory owner, then devotes his life to raising Cosette.
- [Marius Pontmercy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/marius_pontmercy.md): A young lawyer who falls in love with Cosette and becomes involved in the 1832 rebellion.
- [Cosette](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/cosette.md): The abused daughter of Fantine, adopted by Jean Valjean, later Marius's wife.
- [Javert](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/javert.md): A relentless police inspector who pursues Jean Valjean across decades.
- [Fantine](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/fantin.md): A young woman forced into prostitution to support her daughter Cosette.
- [Gavroche](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/gavroche.md): A street urchin and the abandoned son of the Thénardiers, who joins the rebellion.
- [Thénardier](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/thenardier.md): A greedy innkeeper and criminal who exploits Cosette and later schemes in Paris.
- [Madame Thénardier](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/madame_thenardier.md): The cruel wife of Thénardier who abuses Cosette as a child.
- [Éponine](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/eponine.md): The Thénardiers' elder daughter, who secretly loves Marius and helps him.
- [Enjolras](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/enjolras.md): The charismatic leader of the student revolutionaries at the barricade.
- [M. Mabeuf](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/mabeuf.md): An elderly, impoverished gardener and friend of Marius who dies at the barricade.
- [Father Fauchelevent](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/fauchelevent.md): A gardener at the convent where Jean Valjean and Cosette hide.
- [M. Gillenormand](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/gillenormand.md): Marius's conservative, aristocratic grandfather who raises him.
- [Monseigneur Bienvenu](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/myriel.md): The saintly Bishop of Digne who shows Jean Valjean mercy and sets him on a new path.
- [Grantaire](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/grantaire.md): A cynical, drunken student revolutionary and friend of Enjolras.
- [Courfeyrac](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/courfeyrac.md): A cheerful student revolutionary and close friend of Marius.
- [Combeferre](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/combeferre.md): A thoughtful, philosophical student revolutionary and second-in-command to Enjolras.
- [Feuilly](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/feuilly.md): A working-class student revolutionary and passionate republican.
- [Bossuet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/bossuet.md): A cheerful, unlucky student revolutionary and friend of the group.
- [Joly](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/joly.md): A hypochondriac medical student and revolutionary.
- [Bahorel](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/bahorel.md): A dandyish student revolutionary with a taste for adventure.
- [Jean Prouvaire](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/jean_prouvaire.md): A poetic student revolutionary who dies at the barricade.
- [Montparnasse](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/montparnasse.md): A young, elegant member of the Patron-Minette criminal gang.
- [Babet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/babet.md): A member of the Patron-Minette criminal gang.
- [Gueulemer](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/gueulemer.md): A strong, brutish member of the Patron-Minette gang.
- [Claquesous](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/claquesous.md): A masked member of the Patron-Minette gang who also works as a spy.
- [Brujon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/brujon.md): A young, cunning member of the Patron-Minette gang.
- [Azelma](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/azelma.md): The younger daughter of the Thénardiers.
- [Tholomyès](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/tholomyes.md): Fantine's wealthy, callous lover who abandons her.
- [Favorite](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/favorite.md): One of Fantine's friends in Paris, a grisette.
- [Dahlia](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/dahlia.md): One of Fantine's friends in Paris, a grisette.
- [Zéphine](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/zephine.md): One of Fantine's friends in Paris, a grisette.
- [Madame Magloire](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/madame_magloire.md): The Bishop of Digne's devoted housekeeper.
- [Mademoiselle Baptistine](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/mademoiselle_baptistine.md): The Bishop of Digne's gentle, pious sister.
- [Little Gervais](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/little_gervais.md): A young Savoyard boy from whom Jean Valjean steals a coin.
- [Champmathieu](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/champmathieu.md): A poor man mistakenly arrested as Jean Valjean.
- [Madame Victurnien](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/madame_victurnien.md): A gossipy woman who exposes Fantine's past, leading to her dismissal.
- [Sister Simplice](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/sister_simplice.md): A nun who nurses Fantine and later helps Jean Valjean.
- [Mademoiselle Gillenormand](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/mademoiselle_gillenormand.md): Marius's spinster aunt who lives with his grandfather.
- [Théodule](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/theodule.md): Marius's cousin, a vain and shallow officer.
- [Toussaint](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/toussaint.md): Jean Valjean and Cosette's loyal servant in Paris.
- [Boulatruelle](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/boulatruelle.md): A former road-mender turned suspicious peasant in Montfermeil.
- [Father Mestienne](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/mestienne.md): The gravedigger at Père-Lachaise who helps Fauchelevent.
- [Gribier](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/gribier.md): The gravedigger who replaces Mestienne at the convent.
- [Mother Crucifixion](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/mother_crucifixion.md): The prioress of the Petit-Picpus convent.
- [Marguerite](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/marguerite.md): A kind neighbor who helps Fantine in Montreuil-sur-Mer.
- [Master Scaufflaire](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/scaufflaire.md): A coachman who rents Jean Valjean a carriage.
- [Brevet](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/brevet.md): A former convict who testifies at Champmathieu's trial.
- [Chenildieu](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/chenildieu.md): A former convict who testifies at Champmathieu's trial.
- [Cochepaille](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/cochepaille.md): A former convict who testifies at Champmathieu's trial.
- [Ma'am Bougon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/madame_bougon.md): The miserly landlady of the Gorbeau tenement where Marius lives.
- [Father Hucheloup](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/hucheloup.md): The owner of the Corinthe café, a meeting place for revolutionaries.
- [Le Cabuc](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/le_cabuc.md): A violent man at the barricade who is executed by Enjolras.
- [Father Fauvent](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/fauvent.md): A gardener at the convent, possibly related to Fauchelevent.
- [The Magnon](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/magnon.md): A woman who falsely claims to be the mother of the Thénardiers' sons.
- [Georges Pontmercy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/pontmercy_georges.md): Marius's father, a heroic colonel under Napoleon.
- [Madame Pontmercy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/madame_pontmercy.md): Marius's mother, who dies when he is young.
- [M. Bamatabois](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/bamatabois.md): A dandy who harasses Fantine on the street.
- [Laffitte](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/laffitte.md): The banker who holds Jean Valjean's fortune.
- [M. Madeleine](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/madeleine.md): The alias Jean Valjean uses as mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer.
- [M. Leblanc](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/leblanc.md): The alias Jean Valjean uses in Paris while living with Cosette.
- [M. Fauchelevent](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/fauchelevent_m.md): The alias Jean Valjean uses after leaving the convent.
- [Ursule](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/ursule.md): The name Marius gives to Cosette before he knows her real name.
- [The Lark](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/the_lark.md): The nickname given to Cosette by the people of Montfermeil.
- [Mademoiselle Bouchard](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/mademoiselle_bouchard.md): A woman who lives in the Gorbeau tenement.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/les_miserables_se/characters