Boys at the Barricades: Gavroche from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables as a Brave Hero for Children and Young Adults

Abstract

Classic literature has been the birthplace of boy heroes who have been loved by children and young readers across the decades. Boys who reach the Earth's center through a volcano crater and boys who never want to grow up and fight an evil pirate with a hook have captivated young readers while simultaneously reflecting the hero archetypes we deem appropriate to present and represent to them. This article explores the representation of a boy fighting on the barricades, Gavroche from Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, in two contemporary adaptations of the work for children and adolescents, focusing on how children’s literature reshapes classic characters. Using Perry Nodelman’s theoretical framework on male role models and hero archetypes in children’s literature, the study examines Gavroche as a model of the solitary, brave hero who challenges authority. It also investigates possible modifications in his portrayal in the two modern editions compared to the French original, considering these changes as ideological orientations that shape the adapters’ narrative choices. The transition of classic literary works from adult literature to children's and young adult literature highlights not only the timelessness of classic heroes but also the necessity of preserving the values they embody within the framework of contemporary youth literature.