The bargain

In the song "The Bargain" from the musical Les Misérables, Jean Valjean makes a heartfelt promise to take care of Cosette, the daughter of the deceased Fantine. The lyrics reveal Valjean's deep sense of responsibility and guilt for not recognizing Fantine's plight earlier. He finds Cosette in a vulnerable state, wandering in the woods, and resolves to protect her, fulfilling a promise he made to her dying mother.

Valjean's words are filled with a sense of duty and redemption. He acknowledges his previous blindness to Fantine's suffering and vows to make amends by ensuring Cosette's safety and well-being. This act of taking Cosette under his wing is not just a fulfillment of a promise but also a way for Valjean to seek personal redemption for his past mistakes. The lyrics emphasize his determination to settle any debt and provide a fatherly figure for Cosette, highlighting his transformation from a hardened ex-convict to a compassionate guardian.

The interaction with the Thenardiers, who have been exploiting Cosette, further underscores the contrast between Valjean's genuine care and their opportunistic nature. Valjean's insistence on taking Cosette away and providing her with a better life is a powerful statement of his commitment to her future. The song encapsulates themes of redemption, responsibility, and the transformative power of love and compassion, central to the narrative of Les Misérables.