Marius is a young man with great ideals. Jean Valjean has become a man of honor. Both face huge temptations that threaten to tear down all they have come to believe and live. Shall Marius take the easy way out and not help his friends in their struggle for freedom while he pursues his love for Cossette? We can identify with the pull he feels as he debates which way to go.
“Had you been there tonight, you may have known–how the world may be changed in just one burst of light. And what was right seems wrong–and what was wrong seems right.”
“Marius, you’re no longer a child. I don’t doubt you mean it well. But now there is a higher call.”
Marius makes the choice to put his “depair” aside and help his friends fight for freedom.
Jean Valjean faces returning to the horrible prison gang if he owns up to who he really is in order to set free the falsely accused man mistaken for prisoner 2-4-6-0-1. Back and forth his mind races with the possible consequences. On one hand he will go against God whom he has learned to love and trust. On the other hand, an innocent man will go to prison in his place.
“If I speak I am condemned; if I stay silent I am damned . . . How can I ever face my fellow man? How can I ever face myself again? My soul belongs to God, I know, I made that bargain long ago, He gave me hope when hope was gone, He gave me strength to carry on. Who am I? I am Jean Valjean!”
What do you do with temptation? What do you do with the pull that goes back and forth inside when you know you have to make a very hard choice? Often that horrific pull feels like either choice will turn out bad. When you feel tempted, be true to who you are—God’s child. Marius and Valjean both exhibit the character, honor, and sacrificial, unselfish devotion to what is right.
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