Literature - "Les Misérables"
Dear Everyone,
There is a scene in “Gabriel’s Inferno” in which a male and a female character enter into a discussion about forgiveness and penance. I don’t agree with the view of penance that is presented by the woman and neither does she (it differs from the one presented in the link above). But since the man she is speaking with is distraught, she reasons with him as best she can, taking a much starker, harsher view of penance.
She also mentions forgiveness and she does so by referencing Victor Hugo’s novel "Les Misérables." This work is arguably one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century and if you haven’t read it yet, you should.
http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2011/07...
There is a scene in “Gabriel’s Inferno” in which a male and a female character enter into a discussion about forgiveness and penance. I don’t agree with the view of penance that is presented by the woman and neither does she (it differs from the one presented in the link above). But since the man she is speaking with is distraught, she reasons with him as best she can, taking a much starker, harsher view of penance.
She also mentions forgiveness and she does so by referencing Victor Hugo’s novel "Les Misérables." This work is arguably one of the greatest novels of the nineteenth century and if you haven’t read it yet, you should.
http://www.sylvainreynard.com/2011/07...
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Zoe
(last edited Jul 21, 2011 02:38AM)
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Jul 20, 2011 03:54PM
SR, thank you very much , for these very beautiful and meaningful posts that you treat us very Tuesday , I absolutely enjoy reading them and I very much appreciate your thoughts and time that you put into it,and what's more important, preferring to share your opinions and views here with your readers ....
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Thanks for this Miss Sara.And thanks for reading.
All the best, SR
Shoot! SR has already left a reply so I am late to the party. But anyway, I just wanted to add my own rambling thoughts.The moment of forgiveness is very powerful. Too bad, after five minutes, or ten, or a day, the feeling is gone and the past misdeeds come to haunt, taunt and tempt us. It's like having a personal Inspector Javert relentlessly trying to prove that we have not changed. That once bad, we will always bad.
It really is hard to do what is right all the time even after we are given our second chance. Jean Valjean tried his best and he still had his slip-ups. But he learned well from the Bishop and when the time came where he could leave Javert to die or kill him, Valjean saved him instead. That was an action of forgiveness and would later on save him from more imprisonment.
Forgiving is a form of paying it forward. Little did the Bishop know that when he forgave Jean Valjean, there would be other people that Valjean would help. Twice blessed indeed.
Thanks SR for pointing out that forgiveness and justice can go hand in hand. This answers the seemingly contradiction between "eye for an eye" and "forgiving seventy times seven" or "turning the other cheek."
Oh yes, I have not read Les Mis either but I do love the songs from the musical.
End of rambling.
Cee Lakambini wrote: "Shoot! SR has already left a reply so I am late to the party. But anyway, I just wanted to add my own rambling thoughts.The moment of forgiveness is very powerful. Too bad, after five minutes, or..."
Thanks for this, Miss Cee. I agree with you about the idea of paying it forward. It's difficult to judge how our actions (both good and bad) will affect others, but it's an important point to remember.
All the best, SR
Les Miserables is one of my favorite stories ever. The stage production makes me weep every time I see it. Jean Valjean has such integrity.
Jennifer wrote: "Les Miserables is one of my favorite stories ever. The stage production makes me weep every time I see it. Jean Valjean has such integrity."I agree, Miss Jennifer. He's a great character.
SR
