Which character is the main villain in "Les Miserables"?

Monsieur Thenardier - Early on in the story Thenardier is a crooked innkeeper who cheats his customers and along with his wife ill-treat Cossette while she is in their paid care. Later after they lose the inn Monsieur Thenardier appears in Paris as a petty crook and con artist as well as robbing the bodies after the defeat at the barricade. Thenardier is an exemplar of avarice, cruelty and selfish self preservation.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines a villain as

- a bad person who harms other people or breaks the law,

- a criminal,

- a character in a book, play, film, etc. who harms other people.

Whilst some may believe Javert to be the villain, his actions are based firmly on his beliefs, not on a desire to harm or swindle.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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26 Comments

Felicity Hewitt

Javert is the main antagonist in Les Miserables- the Thenadiers are just an amusing distraction.

Alec Boreham

Oops-Javert (French pronunciation: [ʒavɛʁ]) is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables. He was presumably born in 1780 and died on June 7, 1832.

Rajnish Gautam

Javier, the right answer. Explanation failed to support the answer.

Gordon Mehaffey

Wrong answer again and sadly this happen daily!! Why?! Everyone know it was Javert.

Special Patrol Group

Javert, no first name given in the source novel, is a fictional character and a main antagonist of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Misérables.

Player Dennis

Incorrect answer!

teacherchicky

Wrong! Javert is and always has been the main protagonist in this play!

Flavio

The primary antagonist and often considered the main "villain" in Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables" is Inspector Javert, a relentless police inspector who is obsessed with upholding the law, even when it conflicts with compassion or the possibility of redemption.

Susan Hodson

Blairly21, the question asked was who was the villain? not the antagonist which plainly was Javert. An antagonist and a villain are not necessarily the same thing. An antagonist is simply a character or force that opposes the protagonist, while a villain is a character with evil or malicious intent.

Susan Hodson

Scaussie Ian, the question asked was who was the villain? not the antagonist which plainly was Javert. An antagonist and a villain are not necessarily the same thing. An antagonist is simply a character or force that opposes the protagonist, while a villain is a character with evil or malicious intent .

Susan Hodson

Gordon Mehaffey, the question asked was who was the villain? not the antagonist which plainly was Javert. An antagonist and a villain are not necessarily the same thing. An antagonist is simply a character or force that opposes the protagonist, while a villain is a character with evil or malicious intent.

Susan Hodson

Jhan Schmitz, the question asked was who was the villain? not the antagonist which plainly was Javert. An antagonist and a villain are not necessarily the same thing. An antagonist is simply a character or force that opposes the protagonist, while a villain is a character with evil or malicious intent.

Susan Hodson

Richard D. Boyle, the question asked was who was the villain? not the antagonist which plainly was Javert. An antagonist and a villain are not necessarily the same thing. An antagonist is simply a character or force that opposes the protagonist, while a villain is a character with evil or malicious intent.

Susan Hodson

Pauline Davison, the question asked was who was the villain? not the antagonist which plainly was Javert. An antagonist and a villain are not necessarily the same thing. An antagonist is simply a character or force that opposes the protagonist, while a villain is a character with evil or malicious intent.

Susan Hodson

Leapy Lee, yes but the question asked was who was the villain? not the antagonist which plainly was Javert

Leapy Lee

I think the majority of people familiar with the Les Mis story would disagree with this author’s answer. Yes the innkeeper was a petty thief and cheat, but the main antagonist was Javert.

Pauline Davison

Wrong, it is Javert.

Richard D. Boyle

Kaveri is the obvious answer…unless one has never read the book nor seen the play. In order to become the main antagonist, one must be a main character in the work. Neither of the Thenadiers are main characters in the novel nor in the play. Regardless of their intentions or their actions, they are still minor supporting characters not primary antagonists.