Les Miserables Revolution

Jean Valjean: The Beginning

{Jean Valjean}

The cuffs cut deeper into my wrists by the second. I pull and tug in unison with all the other slaves around. The waters wash over us, an with it all the blood leaves from my wrists. The weight of this massive ship in which we're forced to pull is immense. No man deserves this.

I've done no wrong in my life. The years of the forced labor, this slavery that I've suffered are many. For nineteen years I've been serving my time. I committed the weakest of crimes. To save my sister's child from starvation all I did was steal a loaf of bread! Where's the justice? Slavery for 19 years over bread. I have served far more than the time I deserved. Suffered. far greater than what was right. Justice is shown no where to the poor.

The agonized grunts of those around me and that of my own could be heard for miles. They're pain and my own is great. Only a while longer I must repeat to myself. A while longer till I can feel the sweet taste of freedom. Freedom seems only dream at this time. No, I will never be granted my freedom. I will carry on this burden for today and evermore. All the years to come.

"Back to your quarter's!" I hear the overseer's cry and a flood of relief washes over the anguish in which I feel.

We walk back to our quarters. The small, cramped, filthy disease ridden areas in which we sleep. The darkness in which blinds and overwhelms us all. I walk in the line the chains binding me rattle. I look up and have a cane shoved in front of me.

"Retrieve the flag," he says as he nods in the direction. I look up to his face seeing if this is some cruel joke. Looking into the merciless, cold face of Javert was my own mistake. He looks at me with his cold, piercing eyes.

I walk over silently. Any hint of rebellion or objection would be of no use. The pain of the whipping and the beating would be far worse than that of the strain of my muscles as I would carry the flag. The flag alone must way over 200 pounds. I had to carry it single handedly.

I bend down pushing my feet into the ground as I grab ahold of the bottom of the heavy pole. The wait is unbearable and I force it to go upon my shoulder. The pain is too much. The weight is too much. I must do this though. I take step after step. Every step I get closer to Javert. Five feet more to go with this terrible burden then I drop the log at Javert's feet. The pain in my shoulder is unmissable.

"Prisoner 24601 you're time is up, and you're parole's begun. Do you know what that means?" he says.

"Yes means I'm free!" I reply with glee. Freedom. The thing thought if as unattainable was here. So close so near to me I could feel it, touch it, see it, hear it, breathe it in. When I hear Javert's voice it breaks my trance.

" No." As he says the word no there is a happiness shining clearly in his eyes. "Follow to this letter of you itinerary. This badge of shame will show until you die. It warns you a dangerous man-"

"I stole a loaf of bread." I interrupt, "My sister's child was starving-"

"You'll starve again. Unless you learn the meaning of the law."

"The meaning of those nineteen years. A slave of the law." I say angrily. Hatred in my voice. I was trying to save a child. A child whom now is almost certainly dead. He thinks of me a felon alike any other.

"Five years for what you did. The rest because you tried to run. Yes, 24601-"

"My name is Jean Valjean!" I interrupt bitterly.

"And I'm Javert! Do not forget my name. Do not forget me!"

"He hands me the slip of paper which allows me my freedom. I'm on parole I know, but I am no longer a slave. My hatred of this man runs deep to my core. My hatred if him is in my blood, fuels my veins.