An artistic interlude: The maths of Les Miserables

There is something deeply compelling about Les Miserables, the film that’s been breaking box office records and picking up nominations left, right and centre.  Although the story is rather contrived, and parts of it jar with 21^st century audiences, it is a powerful tale of redemption which, as I reflect on it, could be said to illustrate some profound moral mathematics. 

Valjean steals a loaf of bread and consequently spends 19 long years in prison working in a chain gang, where hatred crowds out almost everything else in his heart.  

Injustice + resentment = bitterness

After his release on parole, he is shunned repeatedly as he looks for food, work or lodgings, but finally a kindly bishop offers him food and shelter.  However, Valjean steals the man’s silver in the night, only to be caught and brought back to the bishop.  Quite unexpectedly, instead of accusing Valjean, the bishop admits he had given the silver to his guest, and thus lets him go free.  This act of extraordinary mercy to someone as yet unrepentant leads to a radical change in Valjean, who resolves to break with his past and start a new life. 

Forgiveness + sacrificial kindness = transformation

Years later Valjean is a successful factory owner and town mayor.  He comes to the aid of Fantine, one of his former employees who had resorted to prostitution in a desperate attempt to provide for her daughter Cosette.  Valjean realises he could have prevented it, and as Fantine is dying he vows to take care of her daughter.  (I defy anyone to watch Anne Hathaway singing ‘I dreamed a dream’ and not cry – it’s a consummate performance!)  Valjean doesn’t just provide an allowance for Cosette, however, he raises her as his daughter.
Mercy + unconditional love = adoption

Meanwhile, when he left behind his past life, Valjean broke the conditions of his parole and for years has been evading his former jailer, Javert.  This man knows only the rule of the law, and he sees people in just two categories: the law abiding and sinners.   

One transgression + nothing else = a criminal for life

Javert first catches Valjean moments after he has vowed to find Cosette, and Javert is indifferent to Valjean’s plea to go first and rescue the child, after which he would turn himself in.   

Rule of law + hard heart = mercilessness

Valjean escapes from Javert and a decade later, we find him in Paris, where an uprising is under way.  The revolutionaries capture Javert for spying, but when Valjean sides with them he is given the task of executing Javert.  He leads him away, but instead of killing him, he sets Javert free.  Javert warns that he will not cease to hunt him down; Valjean says he knows, but still releases him unconditionally.  

Forgiveness + refusal to take revenge = a gracious life

Javert confronts Valjean one last time as he is rescuing a wounded revolutionary.  Valjean’s resolute commitment to show mercy to others disarms Javert, whose world of unbending law starts to come unravelled.  But his world just has no place for mercy.  Crime must be punished.  In anguish he realises he cannot live in the same world as Valjean, so he chooses death and plunges into the roaring water (the second time in the film I cried my eyes out).   

Receiving mercy + hardened heart = a tragic end

Is there an equation here for you to ponder?