17 Facts About Cosette

Cosette is the daughter of Fantine, a working woman who leaves her to be looked after by the Thenardiers, who exploit and victimise her.

Cosette falls in love with Marius Pontmercy, a young lawyer.

When he arrives in Montfermeil on Christmas Eve, Valjean finds Cosette fetching a pail of water and accompanies her back to the inn, where he witnesses her mistreatment by the Thenardiers as well as the unkindnesses of their daughters Eponine and Azelma.

At first reluctant, Cosette joyfully accepts it, which infuriates Thenardier; Eponine and Azelma become jealous.

When Cosette has a dream about her mother as an angel, she remarks that her mother must have been a saint.

Cosette is fourteen years old, and fresh out of the convent, so he pays little attention to her.

Cosette asks Eponine to find her address for him, and she reluctantly agrees.

Cosette quickly writes a letter to Marius with this information.

Marius writes a farewell letter to Cosette, which is delivered to Valjean by Gavroche.

Cosette is let out by Thenardier, who has a government key and does not recognize him, simply assuming him to be an assassin who killed Marius.

Javert helps Valjean return Marius to his grandfather's house, and Valjean requests to be brought home to say goodbye to Cosette before being sent back to the galleys.

Cosette then allows Valjean to visit her each evening, but makes those visits increasingly difficult until Valjean stops coming.

When Marius learns from Thenardier that he owes his life to Valjean, Marius and Cosette go to Valjean, find him on his deathbed, and reconcile with him.

Critics have often considered Cosette to be something of an empty figure, with no real independent character apart from the role she plays in the lives of others: as an innocent, hopeless child-victim to be exploited ; a daughter to be protected ; and an object of adoration.

Stephanie Barbe Hammer writes that "Having served her function as a paternalizing figure, Cosette grows up into a silent, beautiful cipher".

Cosette is the primary motivation for several characters in the novel to lift themselves out of darkness, regardless of whether or not they succeed.

Since the original publication of Les Miserables in 1862, the character of Cosette has been included in many adaptations in various media, including books, films, musicals, plays and games, most notably in the 2007 anime Les Miserables: Shojo Cosette, in which she rather than Valjean is the central character.