Les Miserables: Musical synopsis

Les Miserables Synopsis - Broadway musical

The musical Les Misérables takes place at the beginning of the 19th century. After 19 years of penal servitude, Jean Valjean is released by policeman Javert. He was arrested for theft of bread for his family. Every month, he has to report to the lawyer. Jean isn't hired and despised. Once, he was sheltered by the archbishop. He treated him as a brother. Jean Valjean, who still doesn't believe in love, steals all the silver in the house and runs. In the morning, he is brought to the archbishop. The man is beaten to the brink of death. According to the policemen, the man has told them that silver was presented to him by the archbishop. He agrees with it and gives Jean two silver candlesticks, which Jean stores to his death. The man is so touched by care that he tears up all his documents and begins a new life. Jean Valjean sells all his silver and becomes the mayor 8 years later. He is also the owner of the factory. Poor girl Fantine works on it.

Fantine is exposed to harassment by the foreman and contempt from colleagues. She has a secret. A few years ago, the man deceived her and left. She became pregnant and gave birth to a daughter. The girl, Kozetta, grows up in the innkeeper's and his wife's family. They have their daughter, too. They cruelly manage the girl. At the same time, the family writes to her mother and swears that she is often ill. Fantine sends them a lot of money and thinks that she rescues her daughter. Soon her secret is revealed by other workers. The mayor asks the foreman to resolve the conflict. Fantine is dismissed. A desperate woman sells her hair and teeth. She hopes to rescue her "ill" daughter. Then she becomes a prostitute.

One night, when the client comes to her, she refuses to work. The man offends her, and Fantine hits him. At this moment, police officers appear, including Javert. Jean Valjean rescues Fantine from prison and carries her to the hospital. The woman asks him to take care of the daughter and dies. Javert understands that the mayor is Jean, and wants to put him in prison as he had been looking for a fugitive for many years. Jean has escaped. At this time, Kozetta is sent to the winter forest for water, where she is found by Valjean. He redeems the girl from the innkeepers and asks the church gardener for shelter for her. The girl lives in the monastery.

Times of the June revolt. In the center of the plot are the students who have started a revolution. Little Gavroche, the son of impoverished innkeepers, helps them. Marius, one of the associates, notices Kozetta on the street and falls in love with her. The girl reciprocates with the young man. Through Eponine, who is also in love with Marius, he finds the house where Kozetta lives. They start to date in secret from everyone.

Jeanne Valjean and Kozetta are forced to run because of Javert's arrival. Gavroche brings them a note from the barricades. To rescue Kozetta's beloved, the man goes to the heart of revolt. Just at this moment, students detain Javert. They allow Jean Valjean to kill him. He agrees and doesn't kill Javert, but releases him into freedom.

At this time, on the barricades, slaughter is started again. Gavroche and Eponine are killed during the fight. When the fight is resumed, everyone is in mourning. This time, law enforcement authorities try to kill everyone. Jean Valjean rescues wounded Marius. During this, he meets the innkeeper on the road (he has stolen a family ring from Marius). Valjean and half-dead Marius are awaited by Javert. He claims that he will arrest the man for all the crimes that Jean has committed. However, he doesn't decide to shoot at the person who has saved his life recently. The guard is exposed to remorse and commits suicide.

Marius recovers. He gets married to Kozetta. Jean Valjean tells the guy his story and departs for the monastery to die. The innkeeper and his wife come to a wedding and tell Marius scurrilous things about Jean Valjean. They don't understand that they speak about the one who has rescued him. Marius and Kozetta run to the monastery, finding the last minutes of Jean's life. When he dies, he is met by Fantine, the archbishop, and all the dead on the barricades. The last song sounds.
Last Update:May, 22nd 2025