Les Miserable is my absolute favorite play and one of my favorite books as well!

What is interesting to me is that you identify with Cosette!
Honestly, I think she is the least interesting and least important character in the whole plot!
Yes, Jean Valjean ends up dedicating his life to her well being then Marius....and Fontaine and Ephanine both die while trying to ensure her well being...but NONE of it has ANYTHING to do with who she is as in her personality!! It's really truly not about her! And her character is the least well developed rounded out...sure she is nice and sweet and a poor little orphan and she's a good daughter to Valjean...but it is vapid! No complexity at all! She is very young when Valjean takes over her care..and then forward to her in Paris as a young adult..she is kind but completely self absorbed, entitled, and well shallow. Her only real redeeming quality is her sincere devoted gratitude for Valjean, but even that is not truly devoted. Nope, she would have run away with Marcus and left Valjean behind if Marius had not gotten shot or had walked away from the revolution..nope not even in the end..if you remember correctly she holds a grudge against him!! yes I know that Valjean swore Marius to secrecy...but she BELIEVES THAT CRAP?! And thinks She is Entitled to hold a Grudge??!! She hasn't been to see Valjean in years! She doesn't even make accommodations or a thought or care to whether or not he is at her wedding! She goes to see Valjean when he is dying not because she wants to or even asks for him!! Nope!..The only reason that simple-minded self absorbed entitled Cossette reunites with her "father" is because of Valjean and Marius!

The entire score is beautiful and emotional. I have seen it in multiple cities countries and casts....I was actually in a production of Les Mis when I was a child...I cry my eyes out from the second the overture starts up...but I never understood the big fuss about Cosette...it took me years to understand! Infuriated me drove me nuts! And I test off the charts in reasoning skills and reading comprehension!!..but it took becoming a mother myself..to realize the truth..stupidly plain as day! I feel like a moron that I missed it! It's Not About Her! It's about Fontaine and Valjean...Her unwavering uncompromising unconditional love and devotion to her child...and Valjean's moral compass...Which was always on par..he faltered for a moment but was reminded of his true nature and committed to his path by the priest who let him stay for the night...and when he found and cared for Fontaine he saw her soul in her eyes and the best version of himself reflected back. And he became the image of true good and selflessness her saw in her.
FIN.
~Scarlett