Les Misérables (novel)/WMG

Gavroche is female.
The lack of capable female characters in Les Mis has bugged me for some time, so I propose we insert one. It's plausible that Hugo wouldn't catch on to the proper gender of an outspoken prepubescent, or would ignore it if he did know, since in the world of Les Mis all small girls are supposed to play with dolls as children so that they can stay home and take care of children when they get married.
 * *SNERK* Ahem, the above troper may be interested in this: This troper's father, a longtime fan of the musical, insists that the cast is tight, in a pinch a petite young woman is recruited to play Gavroche. This troper doesn't buy it, partially because seeing a very tall boy as Gavroche already breaks suspension of disbelief on that account. However, it is stated in the books that Madame Thénardier lavishes all her love on her girl children and hates her boys for no real reason, just 'cause. (For the Evulz.) Unless Madame doesn't fancy tomboys, or unless there was very bad lighting in the Thénardier's inn...
 * The above troper's father was correct. This troper was a cast member in her high school production of Les Mis and both casts used small girls as Gavroche (we were lucky to get enough boys to cover the all male parts like the students, bishop, guards, and leads). But yes, in the book it was pretty clear that Madame Thénardier didn't like her sons at all and it was apparent that her dislike of Gavroche began at infancy (when Cosette is a child at the inn, the book describes Gavroche crying from his cradle and no one going to check him), so the tomboy factor wouldn't even matter.
 * Professional productions also have female Gavroches if all the normal boy actors are unavailable. It can take some time to realise that the person singing is actually female if you aren't right up against the stage.
 * That said, I actually like this theory.
 * This troper does too. But in a pinch, if we really needed girls, I'd do the proper Self Insert thing and make one of the Amis a girl. Probably Jean Prouvaire.
 * Speaking from the standpoint of a girl who has played Gavroche and read the book, I believe that he's a he. I got the role because the other boy's voices were too low and I can play male. It really all depends on who you can choose from.

Jean Valjean is Napoleon
He was born in 1769. His "prison" sentence begins in 1796, the same year Napoleon commands his first army. He is released from "prison" in 1815 right after Waterloo. While a body double is sent to St.Helena, Napoleon meets up with one of the Bishops he appointed who helps him assume a new identity. Napoleon's secret double agents allow him to gain a fortune quickly and become Mayor.

Javert goes mad after falsely accusing Mayor Madeleine and imagines the rest of Les Mis
Jean Valjean is just a petty criminal. He assumes the false name Champ and is arrested for stealing apples. HE dies while trying to save a prisoner fallen from the galley ship. Javert falsely accuses Mayor Madeline of being Valjean due to superficial similarities. The arrest of the real Valjean, and his treason against an authority figure drive Javert mad with guilt. HE imagines Valjean/Madeleine into a demigod that he wrongly pursues. His suicide is the result of Mayor Madeleine forgiving him for his betrayal, which he imagines as an epic battle. Javert transfers out of M- and continues to pursue his imaginary Jean Valjean even after his death. After a random revolutionary spares his life, Javert imagines that Valjean/Madeleine has spared him again.

On My Own is being sung to Cosette.
Éponine usually imagines Marius when she's alone, but since she knows she'll be seeing Marius soon, she imagines admitting her love for him to Cosette. She reassures Cosette that she knows it's "only in [her] mind" and "only on [her] own". She really was in love with Marius and not just an idealized version of him, but couldn't admit it to him or Cosette without upsetting them.