Since 2016, Ondra Crockett, who teaches French at Scottsburg High School, has invited Bobby Shepherd and I to come into her class at the New Tech Building every year after they finish studying Les Misérables and share our story. For those of you not familiar with Les Misérables, it was written by Victor Hugo and published in 1862 and is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century.
Les Misérables explores a rather bleak period in France during the early 1800s, and there are certainly many grim realities in this story. One of the brightest spots of hope, however, comes by way of the redemption of one of the main characters, a man called Jean Valjean.
Jean Valjean spent nineteen years in prison for stealing bread for his starving family (and also for various escape attempts). Upon his release, he finds that his status as a convict means that no innkeeper will take his money. Bitter and angry, Jean finds shelter with kindly Bishop Myriel. That night, Jean steals the Bishop’s silverware. He is immediately caught, but instead of sending him back to prison, the Bishop pretends that he gave the silverware to Jean and tells him to take a couple of silver candlesticks as well.
Continue reading “The Bishop”