Character Relationship Map: The Scapegoat

Characters

• John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (played by Alec Guinness) — protagonist

  John Barratt is a lonely English teacher whose physical resemblance to Jacques De Gue causes him to be mistaken for the French nobleman. After being abandoned without his clothes, he enters De Gue's f...

• Countess (played by Bette Davis) — supporting

  The Countess is the formidable matriarch of the French family into which John Barratt is drawn. She initially treats him as Jacques De Gue, challenges his decision to renew the foundry contract on unf...

• Blanche (played by Pamela Brown) — supporting

  Blanche is Jacques De Gue's sister and part of the household that refuses to believe Barratt's account of the identity exchange. After Francoise dies, Blanche accuses Barratt of murder, claiming she o...

• Marie-Noel (played by Annabel Bartlett) — supporting

  Marie-Noel is Jacques De Gue's daughter and one of the family members Barratt meets after being taken to the chateau. She encounters him while he is being treated as her father, but, like the other fa...

• Aristide (played by Peter Bull) — supporting

  Aristide is a cousin of the French family who discusses business with Barratt on the day after Barratt arrives at the chateau. His conversation connects Barratt to the family's neglected glass-making...

• Gaston (played by Geoffrey Keen) — supporting

  Gaston is Jacques De Gue's chauffeur. He first arrives at the hotel to collect the man he believes is his master and helps take Barratt to the chateau after Dr. Aloin's diagnosis. Later, Gaston provid...

• Dr. Aloin (played by Noel Howlett) — supporting

  Dr. Aloin is the doctor consulted by Gaston when Barratt insists that he is not Jacques De Gue. Speaking over the telephone, he diagnoses the Englishman as suffering from schizophrenia. Though he neve...

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Countess → Aristide (Power Family Authority)

  Both the Countess and Aristide are involved in the noble family's affairs, including the business and its contractual decisions.

• Dr. Aloin → John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (Professional Doctor And Patient)

  Gaston calls Dr. Aloin, who diagnoses the Englishman over the telephone as suffering from schizophrenia.

• Gaston → John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (Professional Chauffeur)

  Gaston arrives to take Barratt home, mistakes him for his master, and later provides an alibi by driving him to an appointment.

• Aristide → John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (Family Cousin)

  The plot identifies Aristide as a cousin who discusses business with Barratt after Barratt reaches the chateau.

• Marie-Noel → John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (Family Daughter)

  Marie-Noel is listed among the family members Barratt meets at the chateau as the nobleman's daughter.

• Blanche → John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (Family Sister)

  Blanche is identified as the nobleman's sister and later accuses Barratt after the death in the household.

• Countess → John Barratt / Jacques De Gue (Family Mother)

  The Countess is introduced as the formidable mother within the family that John Barratt is forced to impersonate.

Story Analysis

A lonely teacher inherits another man's identity and must survive the family, financial, and violent consequences of that transformation.

Plot Progression

1. The Double Takes His Place
2. A Household Of Doubt
3. The Cost Of Belonging
4. Death Under Suspicion
5. The Identity Duel