Grace and Justice - A picture of Christ in the unexpected

In case you havent figured out by now, I have been re-reading my favourite novel, Les Miserables. And like every good novel, the more you read it the more you end up noticing that you never saw before. There are obvious religious ties in this novel. Filled to the brim with themes such as love, mercy, generosity, grace etc, this didactic work is by definition one from which we are meant to take certain lessons about everything from politics to religion and whatever may fall in between. In previous readings I had always taken the main character, Jean Valjean, to be the main figure from which we can learn. This highly likable convict attempting to escape his past through transforming his life is not only realistic and highly flawed, but immensly believable in his course of events that take him through the novel. Valjean, with his story of conversion and redemption is the obvious choice to draw some sort of religious pretext from in this novel.

However nearing my completion of this reading there is a new character that is striking me. If Valjean is the everyman Christian trying to turn his life towards God and love then, ironically his nemesis; the insatiable and strong willed Inspector Javert, is in some ways his Christ. Javert is neither a good man nor a bad man. He is simply a man - a man compelled by one thing, Justice. He knows no life outside the police and has no patience for circumstance or grace. In nearly everyway he is the antithesis of Valjean. Then what makes him Christlike? While he may not be like Christ in his actions, he certainly is in his struggles. Towards the end of the novel Javert faces a decision regarding Valjean, should he continue to pursue this man despite all the good he is? What is more important, justice or grace? To whom does he owe an allegiance, his morality or his duty? Like Christ was faced with a dilemma at the cross, how to reconcile both mercy and justice, Javert finds himself in a similar dilemma.

He saw before him two roads, both equally straight; but he saw two; and that terrified him--him who had never in his life known but one straight line. And, bitter anguish, thee two roads were contradictory. One of these two straight lines excluded the other. Which of the two was the true one?

As we know the only way to reconcile both Grace and Justice is with some sort of sacrifice, but of what? We know what Christ did but what does Javert do? I wont tell you incase you have not read, but know its unexpected. If you dont know I suggest give the book a read and you wont be dissapointed.