They're unscrupulous working-class people who blame society for his or her sufferings. Early in the novel, they personal %link1% inn and cheat their clients. After they lose the inn in bankruptcy, they modify their identify to Jondrette and live by begging and petty thievery. They serve, alongside Javert, as certainly one of the two arch-nemeses of the story's protagonist, Jean Valjean. While Javert represents the justice system that would punish Valjean, the Thénardiers represent the lawless subculture of society that might exploit him.