On stage, Valjean’s debate over whether to reveal his identity takes a couple of minutes. In the book, it takes about 50 pages of small print, from the sleepless night at home through the long, complicated journey to the courthouse in another town, though the hour he spends in the courthouse before he finally makes up his mind.
His two driving principles: redeem his soul and conceal his identity – have come into conflict for the first time. (Well, not really the first time. There was the incident with the cart, but that was only a minor risk.)
To take the chance fate has offered him, he has to do nothing. To make things right for the falsely accused, he has to go to great lengths just to get to the trial on time. He keeps deciding not to turn himself in, but taking another step towards reaching Arles, just in case he changes his mind.
On Tumblr (Re-Reading Les Mis)