Two minds on the politics of the novel

The book's narration, of course, is very politically passionate. Yet I struggle to reconcile this fact with the plot, which strikes me as conservative in its conclusion. Valjean is an apolitical man who prefers to practice universal human benevolence rather than following causes, while Marius decides that family and love are more fulfilling than the fight for liberty. Don't really have any ideas about how I'd mentally reconcile these two directions the book pulls in.