Javert 🔒 Members

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Age and build

Tall and powerfully built

“a tall black figure, which a belated passer-by in the distance might have taken for a phantom” (Les Miserables, part 174)

Formidable neck and shoulders

“The formidable neck and shoulders belonged to Javert” (Les Miserables, part 61)

Face and hair

Flat nose with deep nostrils and enormous whiskers

“The human face of Javert consisted of a flat nose, with two deep nostrils, towards which enormous whiskers ascended on his cheeks” (Les Miserables, part 25)

Small skull and large jaw

“he had very little skull and a great deal of jaw; his hair concealed his forehead and fell over his eyebrows” (Les Miserables, part 25)

Permanent central frown between eyes

“between his eyes there was a permanent, central frown, like an imprint of wrath; his gaze was obscure; his mouth pursed up and terrible” (Les Miserables, part 25)

Thin lips revealing gums when laughing

“When Javert laughed,—and his laugh was rare and terrible,—his thin lips parted and revealed to view not only his teeth, but his gums, and around his nose there formed a flattened and savage fold, as on the muzzle of a wild beast” (Les Miserables, part 25)

Dress

Wears a hat that conceals his brow

“His brow was not visible; it disappeared beneath his hat: his eyes were not visible, since they were lost under his eyebrows: his chin was not visible, for it was plunged in his cravat” (Les Miserables, part 25)

Hands drawn up in sleeves, carries cane under coat

“his hands were not visible; they were drawn up in his sleeves: and his cane was not visible; he carried it under his coat” (Les Miserables, part 25)

Wears a leather stock with buckle

“The buckle of his leather stock was under his left ear instead of at the nape of his neck” (Les Miserables, part 42)

Wears a great-coat

“with his chin drawn back into the collar of his great-coat” (Les Miserables, part 172)

Voice and speech

Imperious and commanding tone

“Javert replied in his most imperious tone” (Les Miserables, part 147)

Curt and calm voice

“said in a curt, calm voice” (Les Miserables, part 171)

Speaks in low tone when meditative

“said in a low tone” (Les Miserables, part 163)

Rough and demanding manner

“demanded Javert roughly” (Les Miserables, part 172)

Signature words

Addresses people formally as 'Monsieur' or 'Inspector'

“Call me Mr. Inspector” (Les Miserables, part 42)

Uses 'thou' form with prisoners and inferiors

“Javert himself did not notice that he no longer addressed Jean Valjean as “thou” (Les Miserables, part 164)

Speaks of duty and obligation repeatedly

“it is my duty” (Les Miserables, part 44)

Uses 'It is perfectly simple' as a phrase

“It is perfectly simple” (Les Miserables, part 158)

Exclaims 'The devil!' in frustration

“The devil!” ejaculated Javert between his teeth” (Les Miserables, part 109)

Uses 'What a grenadier!' as exclamation

“What a grenadier!” ejaculated Javert” (Les Miserables, part 108)

Gait and mannerisms

Moves with deliberate, measured pace

“he had just mounted the stairs with his habitual deliberation” (Les Miserables, part 42)

Stands erect and rigid, like a soldier

“he stood, perfectly erect, in an attitude almost of discipline” (Les Miserables, part 29)

Thrusts bludgeon between teeth when examining

“Javert thrust his bludgeon between his teeth, bent his knees, inclined his body, laid his two powerful hands on the shoulders of Jean Valjean” (Les Miserables, part 171)

Makes imperceptible movements to secure his weapon

“made sure of his bludgeon in his fist, by an imperceptible movement” (Les Miserables, part 171)

Strengths

Incorruptible and honest in his duties

“this spy who was incapable of a lie, this unspotted police agent” (Les Miserables, part 29)

Possesses keen instinct for tracking criminals

“Javert, with his powerful rectitude of instinct, went straight to the bridge of Austerlitz” (Les Miserables, part 65)

Methodical and precise in police work

“methodical with malefactors, rigid with the buttons of his coat” (Les Miserables, part 42)

Physically strong and capable in combat

“One of his big hands descended on the woman’s shoulder; the other on the husband’s head” (Les Miserables, part 109)

Flaws

Inflexible and unable to adapt his thinking

“Like violent people in general, he was subject to abrupt changes of opinion” (Les Miserables, part 29)

Hesitates and doubts when confronted with ambiguity

“Javert, the man of scruples, never laid a finger on any one’s collar” (Les Miserables, part 65)

Makes tactical errors in pursuit of Jean Valjean

“He was wrong, perhaps, in hesitating in his recognition of the exconvict. The first glance should have sufficed him” (Les Miserables, part 65)

Cannot reconcile mercy with law and order

“What was he to do now? To deliver up Jean Valjean was bad; to leave Jean Valjean at liberty was bad” (Les Miserables, part 173)

Traits

Absolute devotion to authority and law

“the fundamental point in Javert, his element, the very air he breathed, was veneration for all authority” (Les Miserables, part 43)

Sees himself as instrument of justice and order

“he, Javert, personified justice, light, and truth in their celestial function of crushing out evil” (Les Miserables, part 42)

Experiences profound internal struggle when confronted with Jean Valjean's mercy

“Javert had but just gone through some great interior struggle” (Les Miserables, part 29)

Respects ecclesiastical authority above all

“In his eyes, of course, the ecclesiastical authority was the chief of all; he was religious, superficial and correct on this point as on all others” (Les Miserables, part 43)

Pursues Jean Valjean with relentless determination

“Javert had followed Jean Valjean from tree to tree, then from corner to corner of the street, and had not lost sight of him for a single instant” (Les Miserables, part 65)

Lines in their own words

Expressing his shock at the mayor's mercy

“At liberty! I am to be allowed to go! I am not to go to prison for six months! Who said that? It is not possible that any one could have said that” (Les Miserables, part 28)

Confessing his fault to the mayor with rigid logic

“I have suspected you unjustly. That is nothing. It is our right to cherish suspicion, although suspicion directed above ourselves is an abuse” (Les Miserables, part 30)

Responding with bitter laughter to Jean Valjean's revelation

“Javert began to laugh, with that mournful laugh which comes from profound conviction” (Les Miserables, part 30)

Declaring his absolute duty to arrest Jean Valjean

“Inspector Javert, set this woman at liberty” (Les Miserables, part 28)