Les Misérables (novel)/Heartwarming

The novel

 * Valjean taking Cosette from the Thenardiers. Cosette's situation was so terrible, there wasn't a person reading who didn't want someone to rescue her, and he did it. A refreshing example of an inverted Break the Cutie...Heal The Cutie? Rescue The Cutie? Whatever you call it.
 * Gavroche after having seen how the old fellow lives in which garden he intends to spend the night overhears said old fellow - Mabeauf - berating Montparnasse for not getting up and a job instead of idling the days away. Minutes later he steals the big purse Montparnasse earlier stole - and leaves it on Mabeauf's night desk.
 * Gavroche taking care of two little boys left alone on the street. All of this is made of Fuzzy Feel but it gets even more fuzzy when you remember those boys are his little brothers. And he doesn't know.
 * Gillenormand reconciling with Marius after the barricades fall.

The musical
""Come in sir, for you are weary, and the night is cold out there,
 * The entirety of the Bishop of Digne. Just his first lines -

Though our lives are very humble, what we have, we have to share...

... Here's a bed to rest 'til morning, rest from pain, and rest from wrong.""

"Fantine: "For God's sake, please stay till I am sleeping -- and tell Cosette I love her and I'll see her when I wake...""
 * Fantine's death scene, where Valjean assures her that "your child will want for nothing."

"Éponine: "Don't you fret, Monsieur Marius, I don't feel any pain, a little fall of rain, can hardly hurt me now, you're here, that's all I need to know.""
 * Even the Thénardiers toadying up to the rich Valjean can't change the heartwarming power of his claiming Cosette. "I shall not forsake my vow -- Cosette shall have a father now."
 * "A Little Fall of Rain" is probably the most heartbreaking duet in musical theatre history.

"Fantine: Come with me, Where chains will never bind you, All your grief, at last, at last behind you. Lord in heaven, Look down on him in mercy.
 * "Bring Him Home" always puts this Troper to tears.
 * Valjean sparing Javert's life at the barricade.
 * , which leads to a reprise of "Do You Hear the People Sing."

Valjean: Forgive me all my trespasses and take me to your glory.

Fantine, Valjean, Éponine: Take my hand, and lead me to salvation, Take my love, For love is everlasting, And remember, The truth that once was spoken: To love another person is to see the face of God."

"Do you hear the people sing, lost in the valley of the night? It is the music of a people who are climbing to the light. For the wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise! Will you join in our crusade? Who will be strong and stand with me? Somewhere beyond the barricade, is there a world you long to see? Do you hear the people sing? Say, do you hear the distant drums? It is the future that we bring when tomorrow comes!"
 * Special emphasis should be put on that reprise of "Do You Hear the People Sing?" What was formerly a rallying cry to revolution is turned into a hopeful appeal for peace on earth, beautifully ending the show.


 * In the 25th anniversary concert, you can see Javert singing in the final "Do you hear the people sing?"
 * Javert is also present during the finale in the Finnish production.
 * At the very end of the show, after the stage lights have gone out, and the curtain falls, the candlesticks that the Bishop of Digne gave to Valjean are all the lights that are left, burning in the darkness, as though forever - just a reminder of what power one man's kindness can have. *snif*
 * The excellent 1934 French epic film ends like that as well, and it is very effective.
 * When done well,all of Marius and Cosette's interactions bring much needed light and sweetness to the story.
 * Every instance where Cosette calls Valjean "papa".