Les Miserables
Jean Valjean is the central figure in Hugo’s “Les Miserables”. The whole book tells us about the life of the former convict who became quite another person, changed all his life principles and ways and gained positive features. It is possible to mark out several qualities that prove his becoming a new man and the way he did so.
P1 - Jean became an honest person. It is necessary to notice here that he was imprisoned for the first time for stealing bread for his family. After coming out of prison Jean received a yellow passport that meant that he was an ex-convict. And this piece of paper closed almost all the doors before him. The only man who helped Jean in his first free days was the bishop. He gave refuge to Valjean and fed him. Instead Valjean stole two silver candlesticks from the bishop’s house. And despite this the bishop helped him to escape the police telling them that he presented the items to Jean. Being struck by such attitude Jean decided to lead an honest life since that moment and his following life was the proof of his decision. In fact the case with the bishop influenced all his future life because he understood that there still were honest and kind people. A promise to Fantine to find her daughter can be also mentioned here. Jean did his best to find the girl and he managed this.
P2 – Jean became a kind and generous person. Valjean worked hard and managed to set up a factory. He hired a lot of people and paid them a decent salary, thus giving them the opportunity to feed their families. Besides this Jean gave a big part of his profits to the poor, feeding and sheltering them.
P3 - Jean became a caring person. He took care of Fantine and promised her to take care of her only child – Cossete. Relations with Cossete taught him many things but the most important was that he learned how to love people and take care of them. The love to a child released him from the severity and toughness he had gained while being imprisoned. Besides Jean helped a man who almost died being pressed by a cart, though Jean could be recognized and arrested by the inspector Javert. 
P4 - Jean became a law abiding citizen. Though Valjean changed his name to M.Madeline he still remained respectful to law. He never did any other crime and paid all the taxes and wages properly. Valjean exposed himself before the police when he understood that an innocent man could be imprisoned instead of him for his crime.
P5 - Jean became a forgiving man. He forgave all his enemies. Jean rescued Javert at the barricade though Javert did his best to imprison him. Jean forgave Marius for being not respectful with him and saved his life carrying his wounded body to the safe place, and then insured his marriage with Cossete.
 Bibliography
1. Victor Hugo. Les Miserables. New York: Fawcett Premier, 1961.