THE TWISTED TRIAL
Answer these questions.
1.Who was Monsieur Madeleine?
Ans.In Victor Hugo's The Twisted Trial, Monsieur Madeleine was actually Jean
Valjean in disguise. He was the mayor of the town of Montreuil-sur-Mer and a
respected figure. He adopted that identity to rebuild his life and escape his
past as a convict.
2.On what charges was Champmathieu being convicted?
Ans. Champmathieu was convicted on the charges of stealing apples. He was
wrongly identified as Jean Valjean and was on trial for being Jean Valjean,
who was a convict. The witnesses misidentified him,and the trial proceeded
because Champmathieu was not able to defend himself effectively.
3. Champmathieu was identified as Jean Valjean by the witnesses and he was
likely to be pronounced guilty. What brought a twist in the trial?
Ans.While Champmathieu was about to be declared guilty as Jean Valjean,
Monsieur Madeleine, who was among the spectators, interrupted the
proceedings. Madeleine revealed that he himself was the real Jean Valjean and had been
living under a false identity.His confession meant that the court had to release
Champmathieu, as he was not the former convict the witnesses identified. Madeleine’s
conscience was tormented by the injustice of an innocent man being punished for his own
past deeds, making it impossible for him to remain silent.
4.Why did Monsieur Madeleine confess in front of the jury?
Monsieur Madeleine was actually Jean Valjean in disguise.He was torn between
revealing his true identity and potentially facing imprisonment again, or
allowing an innocent man to be wrongly convicted. Madeleine ultimately
chose to confess, revealing himself as Jean Valjean and clearing
Champmathieu’s name. His decision was driven by a strong sense of morality
and the desire to do what was right, even at great personal cost.
5.Why did Champmathieu say, ‘all men mad’?
Ans. Champmathieu said, "all men mad" because he was bewildered and
outraged that he was being mistaken for Jean Valjean, a convict he was not,
and was being put on trial for crimes he didn't commit. He realized that the
court and witnesses were all convinced it was him, despite his inability to
adequately defend himself due to his lack of intelligence, leading him to
believe that everyone was acting irrationally.
RTC
Answer these questions with reference to the context.
1.“He opened a secret door. In the closet was an old pair of trousers, a
haversack, a great thorn stick, ironbound at both ends.”
A. Who opened a secret door?
1.a.Monsieur Madeleine (who was actually Jean Valjean) opened a secret
door where he had hidden his convict’s garments and tools.
b. What did he find in the closet? He found his old convict’s attire and tools,
including an old pair of trousers, a haversack, and a great thorn stick,
ironbound at both ends.
c. What did he do with what he found in the closet? He planned to burn these
items to eliminate any physical link to his past as Jean Valjean, although he
later decided to go to Arras to confess.
2.“…I found a broken branch on the ground with apples on it, and I picked it
up knowing what trouble it would give me.”
a.Who Is the speaker of these lines?
Ans. Champmathieu is the speaker of these lines.
b. What was he accused of?
ANs.He was accused of stealing cider apples.
c. Did he actually commit the crime?
Ans.Yes, he admitted to picking up the broken branch with apples on it, but he
did not believe it was a serious crime.
3.“Yes, your honour, I was the first to recognise him.”
a. Who said this and about whom?
Ans.This was said by one of the former galley slaves (possibly Brevet or
Chenildieu) about Champmathieu, whom they mistakenly identified as
Jean Valjean.
b. Was this statement true?
Ans. No, the statement was false, as Champmathieu was not Jean
Valjean, and the witness was mistaken in their identification.
Think and answer.
1.What do you think would have happened if Madeleine had not entered the
court?
Ans. If Madeleine had not entered the court, Champmathieu, an innocent man,
would have been wrongly convicted and sent to the galleys in Jean Valjean’s
place. Valjean would have continued to live under his assumed identity,
potentially with a heavy conscience.
2.Sometimes we make mistakes and lie to avoid being punished. Should we
lie or should we muster the courage to own up to our mistakes?
ANs.The story of Jean Valjean suggests that while lying might offer temporary
escape from punishment, owning up to mistakes, even when difficult, leads to
true redemption and moral elevation. Valjean’s confession, despite the
personal cost, ultimately liberates him morally and allows him to live a life
aligned with his conscience.
Extra questions
1.Who was pursuing Valjean before the trial?
Answer: Inspector Javert was the police inspector who suspected Madeleine
was Valjean.
2. What items did Valjean burn in the fireplace?
Answer: He burned his old convict clothes, a haversack, and a thorn stick.
3. What does burning these items symbolize?
Answer: It symbolizes his attempt to destroy his past and fully embrace his
new identity.
4. What does the story say about justice?
Answer: It contrasts legal justice (the rigid law) with moral justice (doing
what’s right, even at a personal cost).
5. How does Valjean’s decision affect Javert?
Answer: Valjean’s act of mercy creates a moral dilemma for Javert, which
challenges his rigid worldview.
