Volume 1/ Books One-Two: Summary

Volume 1/ Book One: Summary

At the beginning of the novel, readers are introduced to Charles-Francois Myriel, or Monseigneur Bienvenu, the Bishop of Digne, a prominent French town. The Bishop, a former aristocrat, had escaped to Italy during the Revolution. Myriel had returned to France as a priest, and at seventy-five, he has been the Bishop of Digne for nine years now. He is called “Monseigneur Bienvenu” by his parishioners, which roughly translates to “Father Welcome,” for his altruism and concern for the poor and marginalized.

The Bishop had been summoned back to France by Napoleon himself, and when he’d arrived, the Bishop was accommodated in an opulent palace next to an overburdened and poorly managed hospital. Struck by this inequality, the Bishop converted the palace into a hospital and spent most of his salary to help the poor and abject in Digne. He was supported in this endeavor by his sister, Mademoiselle Baptistine, and his housekeeper, Madame Magloire.

The Bishop is committed to uplifting the lives of the poor and marginalized. He also does not own many material possessions. The only extravagant items in his home are six sets of dinner silverware and two silver candlesticks—items he’d been urged to retain by his well-meaning housekeeper. Toward the end of this section, a number of incidents further highlight the Bishop’s altruism and wisdom: In his conversation with a corrupt politician and a convict on the verge of being executed, he comes across as a saintly, compassionate man. The Bishop also visits a prominent figure of the French Revolution who is now on his deathbed.

Volume 1/ Book Two: Summary

This section introduces readers to Jean Valjean, the novel’s protagonist. He has just been released from his nineteen-year prison sentence, and his arrival in Digne causes consternation among the locals: not only has the prison taken a toll on his appearance but since Valjean had travelled to Digne on foot, the locals are struck by the sight of an impoverished, exhausted man.

The locals grow more concerned when they find out that Valjean is carrying a “yellow passport,” a document convicts were required to present to the general public in nineteenth-century France to identify themselves as ex-prisoners. When Valjean is repeatedly denied boarding in Digne, he is told that the Bishop might be the only person willing to help him. The Bishop receives Valjean kindly and offers him dinner and a bed for the night.

Valjean had been sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He had resorted to theft out of poverty; he had merely hoped to feed his widowed sister and her seven children. Initially sentenced to five years in prison, his sentence had been lengthened after he’d made several attempts to escape. Eventually, Valjean spent nineteen years in prison, a cruel spell that transformed him into a cynical, disillusioned man. It is in this state that he meets the Bishop. Though he is surprised by the extent of the Bishop’s kindness, Valjean nonetheless steal the Bishop’s silver that night.

The next day, Valjean is escorted by the authorities to the Bishop’s house. Though the Bishop is urged to press charges against Valjean, he tells the authorities that he’d given Valjean the silver as a gift. The Bishop also hands over his silver candlesticks to Valjean and urges him to sell the items and use the money to become an honest man.

Though he is grateful to the Bishop, Valjean is also racked by shame for having stolen from a good man. Soon he runs into a young boy in the countryside who drops his silver in Valjean’s vicinity. Valjean refuses to return the silver to the boy and scares him away. Ravaged by guilt, he tries to locate the boy in the hope of returning the silver to him. When he is unable to trace the boy, he confesses to a passing priest that he has stolen from the Bishop of Digne and a young boy. He gives the priest all his money and urges him to use it to uplift the lives of the poor in his parish. Valjean resolves to reform himself and believes that the Bishop will be able to guide him. Toward the end of Book Two, Valjean returns to the Bishop’s residence in the hope of turning his life around.

Analysis: Volume 1/ Books One and Two

Book One focuses almost entirely on M. Myriel’s life and deeds. It establishes him as a pious, compassionate man who treats the poor and marginalized in Digne with dignity and respect. The Bishop’s character and altruism are not directly described. Readers are left to discern as much through the Bishop’s actions and interactions with people. The Bishop’s character and actions represent one of the foundational themes of the novel—the need for compassion in the pursuit of social justice. The Bishop also does not seem to believe in concepts such as “private possessions” and “private property.” He remarks that he does not own anything. When Valjean steals the silver from him, the Bishop does not see it as theft; he merely believes that Valjean needs it more than he ever will.

The novel also suggests that humans are inherently good, that they tend to become evil only when they experience cruelty and injustice. Valjean, an inherently good man, becomes a criminal when he steals a loaf of bread out of necessity. In prison, he faces more cruelty and injustice and is transformed into a disillusioned man. The novel’s stance on human nature is especially noteworthy. It not only suggests that humans are inherently good but also suggests that human nature is malleable, that humans can be redeemed from the clutches of evil or condemned to it.

Valjean’s encounter with the Bishop is an apt example in this context. The Bishop’s goodness convinces Valjean to redeem himself. In turn the Bishop also believes that Valjean has the potential to turn his life around, and he treats Valjean with respect and dignity.

The silver candlesticks are a recurring symbol in the novel. They represent justice, mercy, and the guiding light of compassion. It is indeed telling that the Bishop hands over the candlesticks to Valjean when the authorities urge the Bishop to press charges against him. By giving Valjean the candlesticks, the Bishop passes on the light of compassion. The Bishop’s gesture forces Valjean to rethink his ways.