Critical Analysis of Victor Hugo's Les Mis

Hi everyone,

I just came aross your site today, so I am a first-time poster. For a summer program application (which is due embarassingly soon - Jan 26), I need to write a critical analysis on author's intent of a novel. I chose to write about Les Miserables and Victor Hugo's message of love and compassion and as the novel as an ode to the likely and unlikely heros alike. I would really appreciate it if you could give me some help.

I am having trouble with the definition of a likely hero and therefore a choice for my example character. To begin with, I have the unlikely heros - Gavroche and Valjean. Although Gavroche is young and inexperienced in fighting, he is still willing to do anything that he can for the cause of the republic. He leaves the safety of the barricade when the "citizens of the republic" need ammunition, and he gives the ultimate sacrifice of his young life for this cause. Valjean is an unlikely hero because he is transformed from a criminal who will steal from the kind bishop who gave him food and a roof over his head for the night to the caring man who will risk his cover and his life for a man that hates him (rescuing Fauchelevent from under the carriage) and will do anything to make his adopted daughter Cosette happy again.

What would you consider to be the characterisitics of a likely hero? I have narrowed it down to two main choices, but they are very different characters: Enjolras (leader of the ABC) and Father Myriel (bishop who gives Valjean the gift of stolen candlesticks). Enjolras is a likely hero because he is a young leader fighting for a cause about which he is very passionate, but he will not allow more than 30 people to defend the barricade because he knows that they will likely die in the end. Father Myriel is a likely hero on a smaller scale because he is a person of God who believe in the ability of human to change for the better, no matter the circumstances. He gives Valjean a gift that will change Valjean forever; he willingly gives Valjean the silver candlesticks although Valjean stole them and was caught my the police in exchange for a simple promise that Valjean will become an honest man. His faith in God and in humankind is so great that he will give food and refuge to an ex-convict at night when no one else will.

What do you think of my basic ideas thus far?

Thanks!