The Real Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean: He is, in my opinion, one of the most simple and at the same time one of the most complex characters ever written. As readers follow his journey through Victor Hugo's classic novel Les Miserables, they come to see that Valjean is a passionate person and his story is one filled with many emotions. Love, hate, shame, guilt, the need to prove oneself... All of these timeless issues are embodied in this one man's voyage to freedom and happiness. Through the years, Les Miserables has been adapted into many things- movies, plays, and even musicals. Every director has faced the challenge of bringing to life the multifaceted character of Valjean; some succeed and some fail. After viewing both Bille August and Glenn Jordan's interpretation of the book, I believe August's presentation of Jean Valjean is by far more believable as a human being. In Glenn Jordan's film, Jean Valjean is played by Richard Jordan, who seems too young an actor to master the intricate details of Valjean's personality and psyche. As the film progresses, Jordan's acting becomes increasingly tedious and awkward and he makes no effort to add depth to his portrayal of Valjean as the character ages. His actions seem calculated and cold, as if he is merel
y reciting his lines instead of "playing" the part; the emotions he speaks of never truly reach his eyes. Jordan simply goes through the motions and as a result, makes Valjean seem detached and uninteresting when the exact opposite is true. On the other hand, Bille August's film stars Liam Neeson as the good-hearted Frenchman who spends his life making up for his past mistakes. Neeson has the ability to completely immerse himself in a role, which is exactly what he does in this film. He plays Valjean with such passion and poise that the viewer cannot help but sympathize and accept Valjean's flaws for his good intentions. Neeson's acting retains a powerful presence throughout the entire movie and turns a character from one of the most acclaimed books of all time into an entirely realistic person. This is visible in the very first scene, where Valjean hesitates to accept the Bishop's offer to come inside, warning him that he is a paroled convict and he isn't worthy of the Bishop's kindness. Having Valjean introduce and expose himself as what he is enables the viewer to see how he feels about his life; he is ashamed of himself and Neeson presents this magnificently. In Bille August's adaptation, the viewer can easily sense the air of hostility and enmity between Valjean and Javert. One does not need to be told the history of their acquaintance in order to come to the conclusion that Javert despises Valj
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 954
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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