The effects of love are different for each individual. Professor John Cacioppo found that "...romantic deprivation, unrequited love and loneliness have negative consequences on work performance and mental health...40% of people rejected in love experience depression" (A ). Those who have had happy, love-filled childhood experiences are more capable of expressing their feelings of love to others. However, those whose childhood experiences lack the emotion of love have difficulty showing any emotion to another. They are the ones who are sad, lonely and depressed. In the novel Les Misérables by Victor Hugo he illustrates the different reactions expressed due to love. Jean Valjean, Cosette and Marius go through different experiences that allow them to feel the profound effects of love. Many people in Jean Valjean's life allow him to rediscover the meaning of love. The good bishop is the one who has the task of starting this rediscovery. Jean Valjean's new life begins when the bishop utters the words: “Jean Valjean, my brother, you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It's your soul I'm buying for you. I withdraw it from dark thoughts and the spirit of perdition and give it to God!” (30). This opens Jean Valjean to the good of the world and allows him to immerse himself in the love that Cosette offers him, which he could not do without the bishop's help. The bishop helps Jean Valjean to ensure that there are people who will help him despite his rocky past. This creates a reason for Jean Valjean to act on the experience to rebuild his life and become an honest man. This change of heart helps him feel the love Cosette shows for him, which he has never known. He slowly begins to love and care for… middle of paper… he will surely die” (386). Marius' mind is inept and his only desire is to be with Cosette again. He longs for his love. When Cosette leaves him, he finds himself in an abyss of depression. Due to his childhood experiences, Marius is shaped into a man who cannot control his emotions or express them in a reasonable way. Jean Valjean, Cosette and Marius embark on a life-changing journey, feeling the thrill of love and learning to cope with its effects. Each character quickly realizes that the effects of love are very powerful. Happiness, self-confidence, and depression are all found along the lasting journey. Studies have shown that “...without love we die...” (B). Jean Valjean, Cosette and Marius realize that they cannot survive without experiencing the profound effects of love. Works Cited http://ezinearticles.com/?Without-Love-We-Die&id=3004624, dailyorange.com