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The following day, the students revolt and erect barricades in the narrow streets of Paris. Valjean, learning that Cosette's love is fighting, joins them in order to protect Marius. Éponine also joins. During the ensuing battle, Valjean saves Javert from being killed by the students and lets him go. Javert, a man who believes in absolute obedience of the law, is caught between his belief in the law and the mercy Valjean has shown him. Unable to cope with this dilemma, Javert kills himself. Valjean saves the injured Marius, but many others, including Enjolras and Éponine, are killed. Escaping through the sewers, he returns Marius to Cosette. Marius and Cosette are soon married. Finally, Valjean reveals to them his past, then dies.
==Themes==
===Grace===
''Les Misérables'' is, among its many other themes, a discussion and comparison of [[divine grace|grace]] and [[legalism]]. This is seen most starkly in the [[wiktionary:juxtaposition|juxtaposition]] of the protagonist, Valjean, and the apparent antagonist, Javert.
In the beginning of the book when Valjean breaks away from prison after serving 19 years, all Jean Valjean knows about is the judgment of the law. He committed a crime, he suffered the punishment — although he feels that this is somehow unjust. In a way, his view at this point is similar to that of Javert, with the exception that Javert does think the punishment just. Nevertheless, both operate on a basis of deeds and rewards, or legalism: in the [[musical theater|musical]] adaptation of the work, this is expressed very well in the solo "Stars", with the lines:
<!-- before changing these lyrics, please note that they are correct, depending on the particular rewrite of the lyrics with which you are familiar. Musicals that run a long time go through rewrites and no particular lyric is more correct than any other. The point of this section is the meaning of "Stars", not the specific lyrics -->
:''And so it has been, and so it is written''
:''On the doorway to paradise''
:''That those who falter and those who fall''
:''Must pay the price''
It is from the starting-point of legalism that the two worldviews start to separate. Valjean's first encounter with grace occurs after he has found himself rejected because of his status as an ex-convict, and is forced to take refuge with a bishop for the night (see [[Plot of Les Misérables|synopsis]]). He runs off with the bishop's silver, is caught and returned, but the bishop not only says that the silver was a gift, but famously also gives him the two silver candlesticks from his table. This treatment that does not correspond to what Valjean "deserves" is a powerful image of grace.
Throughout the course of the novel, Valjean is haunted by his past, most notably in the form of Javert. It is therefore fitting that the greatest triumph of grace in the book is between Valjean and Javert. After Javert is captured going undercover with the revolutionaries, Jean Valjean volunteers to execute him. However, instead of taking vengeance as Javert expects, he sets the policeman free. This can be seen as the ultimate triumph of grace in Valjean's life; however, [[Victor Hugo|the author]] also makes the point that legalism can become entrenched: Javert is unable to reconcile his black-and-white view with the apparent high morals of this ex-criminal and with the grace extended to him, and commits [[suicide]].
Grace is seen as a positive moral force in Valjean's life. Whereas prison has hardened him to the point of stealing from a poor and charitable [[bishop]], grace frees him to himself be charitable to others — as in the case of Fantine, accused of [[prostitution]], and of the falsely accused "Jean Valjean" (who is in fact an innocent man — see the [[Plot of Les Misérables|synopsis]]). It also teaches him to react differently to his mistakes: having ducked responsibility when Fantine is fired by his foreman, Valjean proceeds to try to right the wrong. Despite his selfishness in guarding Cosette and keeping her from Marius, when he reads Marius's last note to her he goes to the [[barricade]]s to save Marius. The reforming nature of grace as opposed to the embittering nature of legalism is a major theme in Les Misérables.
==Translations==
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