On Javert

[Deleted]

Something that has annoyed me a lot is that I seem to not understand why Javert is so keen to get Valjean back to prison. Valjean had served out his sentence and was free to leave. Why then pursue the guy year after year?
Either Javert has just lost it, or he hates to see ex-prisoners(who sure are the worst sort of people in Javert's mind) get back on their feet and live a decent, honourable life. He may think that "he's commited crimes before, he'll do it again, so I better get the guy back behind bars". Is that it?

[Cherry-Pie]

I thought it was something to do with the fact that Valjean wasn't free, he was on parole. And also, Javert was born inside a prison and I doubt had a good childhood (*hasn't read the book if it mentions any of this*) so maybe he's more than a little insane. Maybe it's because he has such a reputation of being this formidable jailer (correct term?) that to let one bread thief escape hurt his ego far too much. If a criminal only accused of stealing bread could escape him, what sort of authority was he? Also, the only Valjean didn't go back to prison, the worse the crime of not going back became, hence the more Javert chased him down, maybe?

*I'm currently doing English Lit and am brainwashed with analysing.

[cen]

It's been awhile since I read the book, so I can't cite any specific passages, but from what I remember Valjean skipped out on his parole (he took on a new identity, thus why he is debating whether he should reveal who he is or not in 'Who Am I' ). Then, as now, skipping out on your parole is an offense which, if he were to be caught, would earn him another prison sentence (possibly a permanent one). That's why Javert wants to capture him, in order to bring him to 'justice' (never mind the fact that his idea of justice is a bit skewed). The intensity with which he hunts Valjean down is wrapped up in his characterization and would take a load more analyzing than I feel up to right now.

Hopefully that all makes sense...