Compare and Contrast Jean Val Jean with Javert. An allegorical characters who represent mercy and law respectively.

The main character of the story is Jean Val Jean. He is a large man, very strong, but with a good heart. The minor characters are Javert, a police investigator, who is said to have a "bullet-shaped head". He is tall and sinewy, with coarse black hair. Other characters are Marius, a young law student that falls in love with Cosette, and the bishop, a very kind, generous, selfless man. Both of them are relentless …

…during a battle, Jean had an opportunity to kill Javert, but decided not to. Marius was seriously injured, so Jean took him away from the battle. They eventually came upon Javert who promptly arrested Jean. Jean agreed to go with him as long as Marius was taken care of. Javert decided that he could not arrest him after Jean had spared his life, so he left and committed suicide, the order in his world destroyed.