In chapters 3 and 4 from Les Misérables, Monsieur Madeleine saved Fantine from getting arrested by Javert because of a misunderstanding in the streets. The narrator tells us that M. Madeleine became rich because of an efficient and cheap method of manufacturing glass. M. Madeleine built new factories which provided lots of jobs, and the townspeople elected him as the mayor of Montreuil. Fantine, who used to work in those factories, recognized M. Madeleine and got really angry, because he fired her and then she became a prostitute.  After lots of talking, Monsieur Madeleine convinced Javert to not arrest the woman. Fantine was extremely grateful, and as M. Madeleine was feeling guilty about what happened to her, he offered himself to send money to the Thénardiers so Cosette could come back to her mother. 

    Weeks passed and Fantine was happy, but she caught a fever because of the months of misery and poverty, and she soon couldn’t even leave her bed. She kept asking M. Madeleine when she would see Cosette, and his answers always were “very soon”. When Monsieur Madeleine was preparing himself to go and fetch Cosette, Javert walked into his office and started apologizing, because he thought M. Madeleine was the old prisoner Jean Valjean. Javert told Monsieur Madeleine that the supposed Jean Valjean was arrested in Paris because he stole apples. M. Madeleine was feeling guilty for the men that were being accused unfairly, since he was the real Jean Valjean. 

    The next morning, Monsieur Madeleine traveled to Arras to stop the poor men from being arrested, and he did, he admitted he was Jean Valjean. The other day when M. Madeleine was visiting Fantine, Inspector Javert came in and arrested M. Madeleine. Fantine, scared and sick, realized that she wouldn’t see her dear Cosette and passed away.

    In the Thénadiers’ inn, Madame Thénadier ordered Cosette out in the cold to fetch water and buy some bread on the way. After she got the water, the bucket was very heavy and she couldn’t handle it so she screamed for help. Jean Valjean who coincidentally  was looking for the girl listened and helped her carry the bucket to the inn. He also bought an expensive doll for the child after some misunderstandings with Madame Thénadier children in the inn. Jean Valjean paid the Thénadiers and left with Cosette, keeping his promise to Fantine.

• books
• les miserables
• summary