Valjean was born a decent human being. Unfortunately he was born into poverty, which forced him to steal in order to survive. When he is caught stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, he is imprisoned for five years. He tries to escape from prison but is cough and sentenced to 19 more years in jail. When he is finally released, he is a hardened criminal that society looks down on. He is so used to people looking down on him that he almost gives up trying to be good and steals some silverware from a kind priest who gave him shelter. He is caught the police. When the police question the priest, he says that it was a gift. This started Jean Valjeans's conversion towards a good life. The bishop gave Valjean a sense of hope. He gave him a whole new life. Valjean couldn't have changed without the help of the bishop. He tried to lead a peaceful life, becoming M. Madeleine. When a man in a city nearby is arrested under the name Jean Valjean, Valjean is faced with a tough choice. Rather than letting the other man go to jail for him, he chooses to admit his identity to save the innocent man. Later, he rescues Cossette from her harsh life with the Thenardiers. He acts as her father while she grows up. Valjean is faced with obstacles that make him choose between right and wrong. He always chooses the right path. From this Jean expressed that he only saw right and wrong, black and white.
