1. Jean Valjean Ex-convict still pursued by the law, who strives for moral perfection and achieves a kind of sainthood in his love for the little orphan Cosette. He is also known as M. Madeleine and M. Leblanc.

2. Inspector Javert An incorruptible policeman. He makes it his life's work to track down Jean Valjean.

3. Monseigneur Charles François-Bienvenu Myriel Saintly bishop whose compassionate treatment causes the reformation of the ex-convict Valjean. He is also called "M. Bienvenu."

4. Fantine A beautiful girl of unknown parentage who comes to Paris at the age of fifteen. She falls in love with Tholomyès and bears an illegitimate child, Cosette. Forced to give up her child, Fantine is crushed and ultimately destroyed by adversity.

5. The Poor (beggars) (7)

6. The workers (6)

7. The head of Fantine’s factory

8. Young Cosette Illegitimate daughter of Fantine, originally named Euphrasie. She has a wretched childhood as the ward of the brutal innkeeper Thénardier but later finds happiness in Valjean's devoted care and in the love of a young man.

9. Old Cosette

10. Thénardier An evil innkeeper who mistreats Cosette during her childhood, lures Valjean into an ambush, and commits various other crimes. He is also known as Jondrette and Fabantou.

11. Mme. Thénardier A virago whose sweeping malevolence spares only her husband and her two daughters.

12. The drunk men (7)

13. Two elegant men

14. Young Eponine Older daughter of the Thénardiers. As a child she is spoiled at Cosette's expense; later she becomes a ragged, hungry adolescent. Her love for Marius first endangers, then saves his life.

15. Old Eponine

16. Marius Pontmercy An idealistic student who falls passionately in love with Cosette and later marries her.

17. Gavroche The Thénardiers' oldest son, a typical Paris gamin. He dies heroically at the barricades in the revolution of 1832.

18. Enjolras An uncompromising political radical who dies courageously as the leader of a group of student insurrectionists.

19. Grantaire Enjolras' friend. He is a drunken cynic who redeems a useless existence by sharing Enjolras' death before a firing squad.

20. Combeferre Friend of Enjolras and second in command of the student insurrectionists.

21. Courfeyrac A student. With Enjolras and Combeferre, he helps incite and lead the insurrection.

22. Jean Prouvaire A friend of Enjolras and one of the group of revolutionaries. He is rich, sensitive, and intelligent.

23. Feuilly A self-taught worker, and an ardent insurrectionist

24. The People ( a lot)