"Les Misérables," the classic novel by Victor Hugo, is rich with complex characters whose personal journeys embody larger themes such as justice, redemption, love, and the struggle against adversity. Here, we will explore the major character arcs of key figures and how they interlace to create the overarching narrative: **Jean Valjean**: Jean Valjean is the novel's protagonist, and his arc is one of the most profound in literary history. He begins as a harshly treated ex-convict who, after serving 19 years for stealing bread and trying to escape, emerges with a deep-seated anger toward society. However, an encounter with Bishop Myriel transforms him, and he pledges to become an honest man. Valjean's story from there is one of redemption as he repeatedly sacrifices his own comfort and safety for the good of others, most notably for Cosette, whom he adopts. His journey showcases the power of transformation and the impact of compassion on a person's life. **Inspector Javert**: Javert serves as a foil to Jean Valjean and represents the inflexible arm of the law. Raised in a prison, he views the world in black and white, with justice and the law being absolute. Over the course of the novel, his relentless pursuit of Valjean is driven by his belief that a convict can never truly change. However, Javert's worldview is challenged when Valjean spares his life, leading to Javert's internal conflict and eventual suicide when he cannot reconcile Valjean's mercy with his own rigid moral code. **Fantine**: Fantine's tragic arc represents the plight of the destitute and the marginalized. She starts as a beautiful and innocent young woman who falls for a man who abandons her after she bears his child, Cosette. Thrown into poverty, she does everything she can to provide for her daughter, eventually selling her locket, hair, teeth, and turning to prostitution. Fantine's demise from a cough, worsened by her harsh life, elicits Valjean's promise to care for Cosette, linking her story to the novel's themes of sacrifice and the failures of society. **Cosette**: Cosette's arc is one from darkness to light. As a child, she endures cruelty and neglect at the hands of the Thénardiers, who keep her after her mother, Fantine, leaves to find work. After Valjean rescues her, she enjoys a life of comfort and love. Her narrative represents innocence and the potential for a new beginning. Her love story with Marius Pontmercy later in the novel also introduces themes of hope and the next generation. **Marius Pontmercy**: Marius is a young revolutionary whose arc involves political awakening, romance, and personal growth. Initially naive about the world's harsh realities, he becomes politically involved through his connection with a group called the Friends of the ABC. His love for Cosette spurs him to survive the doomed June Rebellion. Through his relationships and experiences, Marius learns about sacrifice, love, and forgiveness, namely when he later reconciles with Valjean. **Éponine**: Éponine, the daughter of the Thénardiers, represents the consequences of poverty and neglect. Despite her parents' malicious influence, Éponine is depicted with compassion by Hugo. Her unrequited love for Marius shows her to be capable of selflessness and courage, as she assists him despite knowing that his heart belongs to Cosette. Her death at the barricades underscores the indiscriminate destruction that societal injustice can wreak upon individuals. **The Thénardiers**: The Thénardiers serve as antagonists and symbolize the ugliest aspects of greed, deceit, and opportunism. While they do not significantly change over the course of the novel, their presence provides a stark contrast to the virtues of other characters and they face their own form of justice by the novel's end. These character arcs are woven into the historical and political context of 19th-century France, which includes the aftermath of the Napoleonic Wars and the lead-up to the June Rebellion of 1832. Each character's journey navigates through themes of morality, law, revolution, love, and redemption, creating a complex tapestry that contributes to the enduring legacy of "Les Misérables." The novel thus serves not only as a story of personal redemption and social critique but also as an illustration of the human condition and the transformative power of compassion and forgiveness.