Why did Jean Valjean steal a loaf of bread?

Jean Valjean, after spending nineteen years in jail and in the galleys for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his starving family (and for several attempts to escape) is finally released, but his past keeps haunting him.

When did Jean Valjean steal bread?

1795
In the winter of 1795, when resources were scarce, Valjean stole a loaf of bread from a local baker by breaking the window. He was caught and imprisoned for five years in the Bagne of Toulon, the Toulon prison.

How much did Jean Valjean pay for Cosette in today’s money?

The next morning, Christmas Day, Valjean informs the Thénardiers that he has come to take Cosette with him. Madame Thénardier immediately agrees but Thénardier pretends affection for Cosette and acts reluctant. Valjean pays 1500 francs to settle Fantine’s debts and leaves with Cosette.

Who stole the loaf of bread?

Jean Valjean
Into that plot, he folded the story of Jean Valjean, an out-of-work peasant who steals a loaf of bread in order feed not just himself but his sister and her seven children.

Why did Jean Valjean hesitate to steal the silverware at first?

Why did Jean Valjean hesitate to steal the silverware at first? Answer: Because he was helped by the Bishop though he was not accepted by others. When he went to the Bishop’s room, he saw the rays of moonlight shone on the Bishop’s face and he slept peacefully.

Who is Cosette’s real father?

Cosette/Father

How much would a French Franc be worth today?

Convert French Franc to US Dollar

FRF USD
1 FRF 0.176793 USD
5 FRF 0.883966 USD
10 FRF 1.76793 USD
25 FRF 4.41983 USD

How did Fantine get pregnant?

tin]) is a fictional character in Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel Les Misérables. She is a young grisette in Paris who becomes pregnant by a rich student. After he abandons her, she is forced to look after their child, Cosette, on her own.

What age did Jean Valjean steal?

In the book, Jean Valjean tells Bishop Myriel that he is 46 years old. Since the year was 1815 and he was in prison for 19 years, he was 26 when he stole the loaf of bread and 27 when he began his sentence in Toulon.

What did Jean Valjean do once he was in the Bishop’s bedroom?

He gave him cold pie, bottle of wine and some bread. He also gave him bed to sleep. But the convict stole his candlesticks and ran away. He was arrested by the police and brought to Bishop’s house.

Who is the girl on the cover of Les Miserables?

Isabelle Allen
The girl who recreated the iconic Les Miserables poster for the Oscar-nominated movie is Isabelle Allen, who plays Cosette, the forlorn daughter of Fantine (Anne Hathaway).

When did Jean Valjean steal the loaf of bread?

The loaf that Valjean steals, in the winter of 1796, is “not the stick loaf we now think of as ‘French bread,’ ” writes Bellos. “The white-flour baguette was not invented until 1838, and it remained a high-priced specialty for decades after that.

How did Jean Valjean get out of prison?

Jean Valjean is finally released from prison on parole after 19 years spent there working very hard. He got five years for stealing a loaf of bread and fourteen more for trying to escape. Policeman Javert warns him to always carry a “badge of shame”, a ticket of leave which means he is an ex-convict.

What was the theft of bread in Les Miserables?

There was no sharper barometer of economic status in 19th-century France than bread. Anyone who has read or seen Victor Hugo’s masterpiece knows the plot of Les Miserables turns on the theft of a simple loaf of bread. There was no sharper barometer of economic status in 19th-century France than bread.

Who was arrested for stealing a loaf of bread?

A thin young man with a loaf of bread under his arm was being led away by police. Bystanders said he was being arrested for stealing the loaf. He was dressed in mud-spattered clothes, his bare feet thrust into clogs, his ankles wrapped in bloodied rags in lieu of stockings. “It made me think,” wrote Hugo.