Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, une blanchisseuse douce et courageuse (played by Maria Schell) is a protagonist in Gervaise.
Gervaise is a gentle and courageous washerwoman whose story forms the narrative center. Abandoned by Lantier, she marries Henri Coupeau and builds a laundry business, but his accident, alcoholism, and illness undermine their life together. She receives support from Goujet while Virginie intensifies her troubles. Virginie Poisson, une rivale de Gervaise (played by Suzy Delair) appears in Gervaise.
Virginie Poisson is Gervaise's rival, driven by old grudges and the social pressures surrounding her. She adds to Gervaise's emotional and practical difficulties and helps push her further toward alcoholism. Her antagonistic relationship with Gervaise makes her an important force in the protagonist's decline. Lantier, l'amant de Gervaise (played by Armand Mestral) appears in Gervaise.
Lantier is Gervaise's lover at the beginning of the story, but he abandons her and leaves her alone to struggle. His departure establishes the hardship that shapes Gervaise's later life and precedes her marriage to Henri Coupeau, making him an early catalyst for the central conflict. Goujet, le forgeron amoureux de Gervaise (played by Jacques Harden) appears in Gervaise.
Goujet is a blacksmith and a supportive friend of Gervaise who is in love with her. While Henri Coupeau's accident and alcoholism damage her livelihood, Goujet provides emotional support and stands in contrast to Henri's destructive decline. His presence gives Gervaise a source of care amid her worsening troubles.
Gervaise (1956) character relationship network mapped with AI analysis. Explore the connections, alliances, and conflicts between characters.
Characters
Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, une blanchisseuse douce et courageuse
(played by Maria Schell) — protagonist
Gervaise is a gentle and courageous washerwoman whose story forms the narrative center. Abandoned by Lantier, she marries Henri Coupeau and builds a laundry business, but his accident, alcoholism, and...
Virginie Poisson, une rivale de Gervaise
(played by Suzy Delair) — supporting
Virginie Poisson is Gervaise's rival, driven by old grudges and the social pressures surrounding her. She adds to Gervaise's emotional and practical difficulties and helps push her further toward alco...
Lantier, l'amant de Gervaise
(played by Armand Mestral) — supporting
Lantier is Gervaise's lover at the beginning of the story, but he abandons her and leaves her alone to struggle. His departure establishes the hardship that shapes Gervaise's later life and precedes h...
Goujet, le forgeron amoureux de Gervaise
(played by Jacques Harden) — supporting
Goujet is a blacksmith and a supportive friend of Gervaise who is in love with her. While Henri Coupeau's accident and alcoholism damage her livelihood, Goujet provides emotional support and stands in...
Canonical Relationships
Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.
Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, une blanchisseuse douce et courageuse → Lantier, l'amant de Gervaise
(Romantic Former Lover)
Story Dynamics
Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.
Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, une blanchisseuse douce et courageuse → Virginie Poisson, une rivale de Gervaise
(Conflict Rival)
Gervaise Macquart Coupeau, une blanchisseuse douce et courageuse → Goujet, le forgeron amoureux de Gervaise
(Social Friend)
Story Analysis
The story traces a working woman's attempt to build security while abandonment, injury, alcoholism, illness, and social hardship destroy her family's stability.
