Javert

Javert is a fictional character and the main antagonist of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel Les Miserables. Presumably born in 1780 and dying on June 7, 1832, he serves as a prison guard and later as a police inspector. His character is defined by his authoritarian worldview, legalist tendencies, and a complete lack of empathy for criminals of any kind.

Throughout the novel, Javert relentlessly persecutes the protagonist, Jean Valjean. This pursuit is driven by Valjean’s violation of his parole and his theft from a child named Petit Gervais.