Adapted from the 1862 novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables is a tragic (it has “miserable” in the name for a reason), yet enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, , sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit.

Why does everyone love Les Misérables?

Les Mis has songs that are epic, powerful, passionate, and highly emotional. The songs perfectly match with the characters and plot. The songs give you goosebumps and literally hit you like a pile of bricks reducing you to tears. Do you prefer classical musical theatre or contemporary musicals?

Why is Les Mis music so good?

The songs in Les Mis are so catchy that they become the be-all and end-all of the piece, something to be sung on road trips and, for many people, completely divorced from the story. But what gives those songs their gravitas are the themes of Les Mis: It's fundamentally about misplaced justice and social inequality.

Why was Les Misérables significant?

The themes of Les Misérables are concerned with social issues in 19th-century urban France. Victor Hugo uses Les Misérables to deliver critiques of wealth distribution, the justice system, industrialism, and republicanism.

What do the miserables teach us?

It is it themes of hope, love, compassion, forgiveness, sacrifice, humanity and redemption that gives Les Mis this beautiful underlying spirituality. But in terms of the show itself: You learn how one person can make a huge impact of your life.

What Les Miserables Can Teach Us About Music

What is the main problem in Les Misérables?

Major conflict Valjean struggles to transform himself from a thief into an honest man; over the years he struggles to stay a step ahead of the zealous police officer Javert and tries to raise his adopted daughter, Cosette.

What message does Les Misérables try to convey to its reader?

Answer. Les Miserables (The Miserable) has relayed many valuable lessons with its sensational attack on poverty, equality, sovereignty, youth, forgiveness, and justice. In this story, it is shown that the youth are skilled and strong enough to make or initiate even the biggest of changes if they are willing to do so.

What is the deeper meaning of Les Misérables?

In Les Misérables, Hugo asserts that love and compassion are the most important gifts one person can give another and that always displaying these qualities should be the most important goal in life.

What is an interesting fact about Les Misérables?

The show uses approximately 1,200 costumes and they take up one entire tractor trailer! There are 8 wedding ball gowns on stage for less than 5 minutes. Each dress requires 15 yards of fabric and 50 hours to construct! Over 88 wigs travel with Les Misérables!

How historically accurate is Les Misérables?

The historic events are real (like Waterloo, the revolution,…) The characters, however probably not real. There may be some real people that inspired Hugo to come up with a character in his novel. But in order to express his view, most novelists adapt the characters, idealize them, or evilize them.

What is the saddest part of Les Misérables?

All of the deaths are really heartbreaking in Les Mis. But I think the saddest might be Javert mainly because he is the only one who dies alone. Fantine dies with Valjean by her side, Eponine dies with Marius by her side, Enjolras, the students, and Gavrcohe die for their cause and all together.

What is the most iconic song Les Mis?

Some of the most well-known are: “I Dreamed a Dream”, “One Day More”, “On My Own”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “Who Am I?”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Stars”, and “A Heart Full of Love”.

Is Les Mis the greatest musical?

This epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history. Seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries, 438 cities and 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly still one of the world's most popular musicals.

Is Les Misérables about poverty?

France's Oscar-Nominated Les Misérables Is an Invigorating Tale of Poverty and Revolt. Sometimes the value of a movie lies not in telling you a story you've never heard, but in the way it draws you, for an hour or two, deeply into someone else's world.

Are Les Misérables about the French Revolution?

The films and musicals often play up the revolution portion of Les Misérables, so it's only natural that people associate it with one of France's most widely known historical events. However, Les Misérables is actually set 43 years after the French Revolution took place, during an uprising known as the June Rebellion.

Who suffers the most in Les Misérables?

Emma Oliveros The most miserable or tragic character in Les Miserables for me is Eponine. As soon as I read about her, my heart really felt sad about her. Like she was an innocent, poor one. I honestly forgot she was once evil to Cosette.

Why is it called the miserables?

The title is also referring to French society at large. Throughout the novel, the reader sees that the people of France in general, not just the central characters, are suffering due to societal restrictions and class disparity.

What does Jean Valjean symbolize?

Hardened by prison and rescued by the kindness of M. Myriel, Valjean is a blank slate, molded by his encounters and circumstances. This ability to change makes him a universal symbol of hope—if he can learn love and charity after suffering so much injustice, anyone can.

What is the conclusion of the Les Misérables?

Les Misérables ends with Jean Valjean's reconciliation with Cosette and her new husband Marius and Valjean's subsequent death. He manages to tell Cosette about his past as a convict, and receives her forgiveness. He also tells her the story of her mother, Fantine, and of how he adopted her from the Thénardiers.

How is Les Misérables relevant today?

Hugo used Les Misérables to criticize the injustices of 19th century France. However, issues dealt with in the novel are universal and still resonate — the rights of women, intergenerational conflict, cruelty of the justice system, and the failure of society's institutions.

How do Les Misérables relate to current society?

Social Injustice

Les Misérables presents an inescapable reality for its readers: government corruption can devastate those it oppresses. Victor Hugo highlights Inspector Javert's irrefutably biased perception of justice: that Jean Valjean will never redeem himself and should stay chained to his convict's past.

What kills Fantine in Les Mis?

After he abandons her, she is forced to look after their child, Cosette, on her own. Originally a beautiful and naive girl, Fantine is eventually forced by circumstances to become a prostitute to support her daughter, losing her beauty and health until she finally dies of tuberculosis.

What is the climax of the Les Misérables?

The climax of Les Misérables is Jean Valjean's rescue of Marius from the barricade. Marius has been shot and is in desperate need of medical care. Valjean drags him, unconscious, through the Paris sewers, where he briefly encounters M. Thenardier.

Is Les Misérables a masterpiece?

Victor Hugo's epic masterpiece Les Misérables gets an emotional adaptation by multi award-winning screenwriter Andrew Davies—no singing in this version!