Redemption in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, and Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge Open Access
Zamora, Montserrat (Spring 2019)
Published
Abstract
Comparing Victor Hugo’s novel, Les Misérables, and Thomas Hardy’s novel, The Mayor of Casterbridge, I argue that both writers construct a narrative that analyzes the potential for redemption within the context of an individual entering into a covenant with God. Taking into consideration both authors’ Christian background, I apply the New Testament’s understanding of redemption and the relationship between faith and works as described within Jesus’ ministry to my analysis of both novels. In an attempt to also investigate the role society plays in influencing an individual’s ability to enter into a covenant, I develop an in-depth literary analysis of Jean Valjean, Javert and Michael Henchard. I explore how the characters are artistical representations of society’s outcasts who have been impacted by societal rhetoric in their endeavor to re-establish their lives and gain redemption.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………..…………….……..1
Chapter 2: Redemption in Judeo-Christian Scripture………………………………......………...……………....….4
Chapter 3: Faith, Works, and Redemption in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables………….................…………….27
Chapter 4: Selfishness in Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge…….…………...............……………....59
Chapter 5: Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………86
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