Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Plot Overview
Chocolat is a novel of a dormant village's awakening to joy and adventure. In isolated Lansquenet, where nothing has changed in hundreds of years, Vianne Rocher and her chocolatrie arrive and instantly begin to wreak havoc to the Lenten vows. Each box comes with a free gift, implementing her shrewd business-woman nature. She uses her 'powers' to read customer's mind and give them what they please. Does that make her a witch? Soon, her Black Man, Reynaud, no longer cares, abandoning himself to temptation, happiness, and a dramatic face-off between Lenten vows and chocolate temptations.
Recommendation
The cover, with its purple cover and chocolate truffles, make it an attractive book to chose. With the movie being such a hit, the title caught my eye as well.
The book is smoothly flowing and captivating. It provides the perfect mix of ingredients for a delicous book. It contains a fair share of mystery, drama and adventure. Romance is minimal, however. The idea is one I have never encountered before and I would definitely recommend it to readers of all ages.
The book is smoothly flowing and captivating. It provides the perfect mix of ingredients for a delicous book. It contains a fair share of mystery, drama and adventure. Romance is minimal, however. The idea is one I have never encountered before and I would definitely recommend it to readers of all ages.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Symbols
Black Man
The black man is a mixture of fear and the unknown. Throughout the novel, he is portrayed as the element that has kept Vianne on the run throughout her life. The black man is more of an abstract figure than something tangible. People fear the unknown and his defeat signals Vianne’s overcoming of her fear.
Pantoufle:
Pantoufle is Anouk's imaginary friend that she drags along everywhere. It is a symbol of stability and belonging. Every child needs stability and Pantoufle provides that for Anouk amist their nomadic lifestyle before settling in Lanqueset.
The black man is a mixture of fear and the unknown. Throughout the novel, he is portrayed as the element that has kept Vianne on the run throughout her life. The black man is more of an abstract figure than something tangible. People fear the unknown and his defeat signals Vianne’s overcoming of her fear.
Pantoufle:
Pantoufle is Anouk's imaginary friend that she drags along everywhere. It is a symbol of stability and belonging. Every child needs stability and Pantoufle provides that for Anouk amist their nomadic lifestyle before settling in Lanqueset.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Themes
Perseverance:
Fear of the Black Man kept Vianne and her mother on the run for years. When Vianne grew up and had a daughter of her own, she decided that she wanted to settle down and allow her daughter to grow up differently than she had. They settle down in the isolate town of Lansquenet and Vianne decides to face the Black Man. Perseverance appears from both parties here. Reynaud, pictured as the black man, tries different approaches to evict Vianne from Lansquenet. Vianne, on the other hand, persists with her defensive maneuvers against Reynaud before eventually kicking him out.
Perseverance is also present in Reynaud’s consistent preaching against the River people, Armande’s efforts to reconnect with her grandson and Josephine’s independence from Paul.
The Past:
The novel’s two main characters, Reynaud and Vianne, share a common past. Little is known about the link between the two’s pasts but there are clues throughout the novel that hint that this is not the first meeting between the two. Vianne remembers things about her past throughout the novel, especially at night when little Anouk is asleep. Reynaud recalls incidents from his childhood in the chapters where he addresses ‘pere’. Both seem to know each other or each other’s type just as they met. There is a reason why the town isn’t big enough for the both of them, but Joanne Harris leaves that reason to the reader’s imagination.
Mysterious Stranger:
The mysterious stranger in this novel is Francis Reynaud who embodies the antagonist. It is deduced that he is the Black Man that Vianne has spent her whole life running away from. However, it is unclear whether Reynaud is the Black Man himself or just a representative of him.
Mysterious strangers also appear in other parts of the novel but take up a very minor role. The faceless people in Vianne’s dreams and Paul Muscat the night of the fire can also be considered mysterious strangers.
Fear of the Black Man kept Vianne and her mother on the run for years. When Vianne grew up and had a daughter of her own, she decided that she wanted to settle down and allow her daughter to grow up differently than she had. They settle down in the isolate town of Lansquenet and Vianne decides to face the Black Man. Perseverance appears from both parties here. Reynaud, pictured as the black man, tries different approaches to evict Vianne from Lansquenet. Vianne, on the other hand, persists with her defensive maneuvers against Reynaud before eventually kicking him out.
Perseverance is also present in Reynaud’s consistent preaching against the River people, Armande’s efforts to reconnect with her grandson and Josephine’s independence from Paul.
The Past:
The novel’s two main characters, Reynaud and Vianne, share a common past. Little is known about the link between the two’s pasts but there are clues throughout the novel that hint that this is not the first meeting between the two. Vianne remembers things about her past throughout the novel, especially at night when little Anouk is asleep. Reynaud recalls incidents from his childhood in the chapters where he addresses ‘pere’. Both seem to know each other or each other’s type just as they met. There is a reason why the town isn’t big enough for the both of them, but Joanne Harris leaves that reason to the reader’s imagination.
Mysterious Stranger:
The mysterious stranger in this novel is Francis Reynaud who embodies the antagonist. It is deduced that he is the Black Man that Vianne has spent her whole life running away from. However, it is unclear whether Reynaud is the Black Man himself or just a representative of him.
Mysterious strangers also appear in other parts of the novel but take up a very minor role. The faceless people in Vianne’s dreams and Paul Muscat the night of the fire can also be considered mysterious strangers.
Character List
- Vianne Rocher
- Anouk Rocher
- Josephine Muscat
- Paul-Marie Muscat
- Armande Voizin
- Francis Reynaud
- Caroline Clairmont
- Luc Clairmont
- Guillaume
- Narcisse
- Roux
- Zezette & Blanche
- Anouk Rocher
- Josephine Muscat
- Paul-Marie Muscat
- Armande Voizin
- Francis Reynaud
- Caroline Clairmont
- Luc Clairmont
- Guillaume
- Narcisse
- Roux
- Zezette & Blanche
Essay prompts
1) Reynaud and Vianne’s common elements such as their mysterious pasts and need for acceptance are contributing factors in their relationship. Why do these factors result in their relationship being that of enemies rather than friends?
2)How does Vianne’s relationship with her bohemian mother affect her personality as a woman who appears calm and confident but is actually scared and insecure?
3) Armande Voizin is an old woman of experience and wisdom. She chooses to time her death to just after her 81st birthday. She tells Vianne about this. Did you think the way Vianne reacted was appropriate or would you have reacted differently?
2)How does Vianne’s relationship with her bohemian mother affect her personality as a woman who appears calm and confident but is actually scared and insecure?
3) Armande Voizin is an old woman of experience and wisdom. She chooses to time her death to just after her 81st birthday. She tells Vianne about this. Did you think the way Vianne reacted was appropriate or would you have reacted differently?
About The Author
Joanne Michèle Sylvie Harris (born 3 July 1964, Barnsley, Yorkshire) is a British author. Born to a French mother and an English father in her grandparents' sweet shop, her family life was filled with food and folklore. Her great-grandmother was a known witch and healer. All of this was an environment that would play a key role as an adult in the development of her novels.
Her novels include:
The Evil Seed (1989)
Sleep, Pale Sister (1993)
Chocolat (1999)
Blackberry Wine (2000)
Five Quarters of the Orange (2001)
Tea With the Birds (2001)
The French Kitchen, A Cook Book (2002)
Coastliners (2002)
Holy Fools (2003)
Jigs & Reels (2004)
Gentlemen & Players (2005)
The French Market (2005)
The Lollipop Shoes (2007)
Runemarks (2007)
Blueeyedboy (April 2010)
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Harris
Her novels include:
The Evil Seed (1989)
Sleep, Pale Sister (1993)
Chocolat (1999)
Blackberry Wine (2000)
Five Quarters of the Orange (2001)
Tea With the Birds (2001)
The French Kitchen, A Cook Book (2002)
Coastliners (2002)
Holy Fools (2003)
Jigs & Reels (2004)
Gentlemen & Players (2005)
The French Market (2005)
The Lollipop Shoes (2007)
Runemarks (2007)
Blueeyedboy (April 2010)
Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joanne_Harris
Quotations
P 46: Haven't the winds blown less hard, less often?
A rhetorical question asked by Vianne Rocher upon arriving in Lansquenet. Less hard, less often suggests a double negative meaning the winds blow hard often. She is reflecting on the difficulties she is facing while settling.
P 46: Forget yourself if you can.
Another quote by Vianne Rocher, she resorts to this method to forget her worries. It is a piece of advice given to the reader.
P 61: I slept poorly inside a kaleidoscope of dreams
A quote by priest Francis Reynaud describing how poorly his sleep was. The kaleidoscope, being a tube of mirrors, symbolized the many ideas flowing through his head, preventing him from having enough rest-bite.
P 146: I am a kite, feelings the wind, rising in an instant above the church tower, rising above myself.
Vianne Rocher uses this metaphor to describe her feelings. She emphasized on the rising of the kite to symbolize the endless boundaries of life and potential.
P 160: To rail against a children’s celebration is to court ridicule.
This quote by Reynaud emphasizes children's innocence. It shows that the only way to get to Vianne is through her. Using Anouk as bate would be eliciting ridicule.
P 163: Weeds and wheat cannot grow peacefully together. Any gardener could tell you the same thing.
The weeds and wheat symbolize Reynaud and Vianne. This quote pretty much summarizes the whole novel.
P 167: Sometimes survival is the worst alternative there is.
A quote that tells Armande's story. It explains that happiness should be one's goal in life, not survival.
P 184: I believe that being happy is the only important thing. Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or torturous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.
Another quote that summarized the novel, this forms a link between chocolate and life.
P 186: She has her own Black Man.
Vianne believes that everyone in life has their own Black Man, with him being the symbol of fear.
P 230: Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.
Armande shows her wisdom in this quote. She believes life should be lived to the fullest and portrays that mentality throughout the story.
A rhetorical question asked by Vianne Rocher upon arriving in Lansquenet. Less hard, less often suggests a double negative meaning the winds blow hard often. She is reflecting on the difficulties she is facing while settling.
P 46: Forget yourself if you can.
Another quote by Vianne Rocher, she resorts to this method to forget her worries. It is a piece of advice given to the reader.
P 61: I slept poorly inside a kaleidoscope of dreams
A quote by priest Francis Reynaud describing how poorly his sleep was. The kaleidoscope, being a tube of mirrors, symbolized the many ideas flowing through his head, preventing him from having enough rest-bite.
P 146: I am a kite, feelings the wind, rising in an instant above the church tower, rising above myself.
Vianne Rocher uses this metaphor to describe her feelings. She emphasized on the rising of the kite to symbolize the endless boundaries of life and potential.
P 160: To rail against a children’s celebration is to court ridicule.
This quote by Reynaud emphasizes children's innocence. It shows that the only way to get to Vianne is through her. Using Anouk as bate would be eliciting ridicule.
P 163: Weeds and wheat cannot grow peacefully together. Any gardener could tell you the same thing.
The weeds and wheat symbolize Reynaud and Vianne. This quote pretty much summarizes the whole novel.
P 167: Sometimes survival is the worst alternative there is.
A quote that tells Armande's story. It explains that happiness should be one's goal in life, not survival.
P 184: I believe that being happy is the only important thing. Happiness. Simple as a glass of chocolate or torturous as the heart. Bitter. Sweet. Alive.
Another quote that summarized the novel, this forms a link between chocolate and life.
P 186: She has her own Black Man.
Vianne believes that everyone in life has their own Black Man, with him being the symbol of fear.
P 230: Life is what you celebrate. All of it. Even its end.
Armande shows her wisdom in this quote. She believes life should be lived to the fullest and portrays that mentality throughout the story.
Word Wizard
Barges: long, flat-bottomed boat (p. 107)
Corrugate: to fold or be folded into alternate furrows and ridges (p. 107)
Gild: To give an often deceptively attractive or improved appearance to. (p. 112)
Awe: A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might (p. 114)
Impish: Of or befitting an imp; mischievous. (p. 122)
Croon: To hum or sing softly. (p. 155)
Derelict: Deserted by an owner or keeper; abandoned. (p. 181)
Obstreperous: Noisily and stubbornly defiant. (p. 181)
Wheedled: To persuade or attempt to persuade by flattery or guile; cajole. (p. 194)
Vindicate: To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example). (p. 205)
Translucent: Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusion to prevent perception of distinct images. (p. 218)
Remonstrate: To say or plead in protest, objection, or reproof. (p. 227)
Gall: Something bitter to endure (p. 232)
Mutinous: Turbulent and uncontrollable (p. 240)
Ostensible: Represented or appearing as such (p. 253)
Indelible: Unable to be forgotten; memorable (p. 262)
Insouciance: lack of care or concern; a lighthearted attitude (p. 267)
Shrill: High-pitched and piercing in tone or sound (p. 275)
Malice: the desire to do harm or mischief (p. 277)
Pied: Patchy in color; splotched or piebald. (p. 283)
Dappled: Spotted (p. 283)
Daub: To cover or smear with a soft adhesive substance such as plaster, grease, or mud. (p. 295)
Imponent: a person who imposes a duty (p. 305)
Contemptuous: Manifesting or feeling contempt; scornful (p. 308)
Abate: To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen (p. 316)
Corrugate: to fold or be folded into alternate furrows and ridges (p. 107)
Gild: To give an often deceptively attractive or improved appearance to. (p. 112)
Awe: A mixed emotion of reverence, respect, dread, and wonder inspired by authority, genius, great beauty, sublimity, or might (p. 114)
Impish: Of or befitting an imp; mischievous. (p. 122)
Croon: To hum or sing softly. (p. 155)
Derelict: Deserted by an owner or keeper; abandoned. (p. 181)
Obstreperous: Noisily and stubbornly defiant. (p. 181)
Wheedled: To persuade or attempt to persuade by flattery or guile; cajole. (p. 194)
Vindicate: To defend, maintain, or insist on the recognition of (one's rights, for example). (p. 205)
Translucent: Transmitting light but causing sufficient diffusion to prevent perception of distinct images. (p. 218)
Remonstrate: To say or plead in protest, objection, or reproof. (p. 227)
Gall: Something bitter to endure (p. 232)
Mutinous: Turbulent and uncontrollable (p. 240)
Ostensible: Represented or appearing as such (p. 253)
Indelible: Unable to be forgotten; memorable (p. 262)
Insouciance: lack of care or concern; a lighthearted attitude (p. 267)
Shrill: High-pitched and piercing in tone or sound (p. 275)
Malice: the desire to do harm or mischief (p. 277)
Pied: Patchy in color; splotched or piebald. (p. 283)
Dappled: Spotted (p. 283)
Daub: To cover or smear with a soft adhesive substance such as plaster, grease, or mud. (p. 295)
Imponent: a person who imposes a duty (p. 305)
Contemptuous: Manifesting or feeling contempt; scornful (p. 308)
Abate: To reduce in amount, degree, or intensity; lessen (p. 316)
Character Analysis
Major:
Vianne Rocher:
Vianne Rocher is a young woman who comes to the isolate French town of Lansquenet. She is a single mother with one daughter, Anouk, and the novel makes no mention of the father. At first she is rejected and treated as an intruder. She moves into a derelict bakery and transforms it into La Céleste Praline, a small chocolaterie. Her chocolate proves to be a pathway into the hearts of many of the residents as the town is split into those who side with Vianne verses those who side with Reynaud. Her first friend is Armande Voizin who claims she sees Vianne for who she really is, some sort of witch who can read people’s minds. Later on, Vianne befriends the River people that Francis considers enemies and even makes love to their leader, Roux. He is the only man presence in her life. Her influence reunites Luc and his grandmother Armande after being so apart due to the shallowness of his mother, Caro, who believes Armande is a bad influence. Vianne appears as a calm and confident woman but beneath that lies insecurity and fear. She must overcome her habit of changing with the wind and must face the Black Man that has kept her on the run her entire life. She believes everyone has their own Black Man and that hers is Reynaud. She must face him in a silent, mental battle throughout her stay in Lansquenet. The cliché ‘this town ain’t big enough for the both of us’ provides the perfect summary of the novel as by the end of it, Reynaud runs off and Vianne finds her home.
Francis Reynaud:
Francis Reynaud, like any religious man in a small town, has a big influence on all the people of Lansquenet. His suspicions begin with the arrival of Vianne and Anouk and his initial strategy is to try and befriend the enemy. He offers her help in repairing the bakery but she refuses politely, emphasizing that she has got it all under control. He hopes that people will realize that she should be evicted on their own in fear of tarnishing his reputation. His plan works at first as concerned mothers begin to forbid their children from spending time with Anouk, as she plants wild ideas in to their heads. Also business is not running very smoothly at the chocolate shop and Reynaud begins to believe that it is just a matter of time before they leave with the changing of the wind. Despite it being Lent, Vianne and her chocolate maneuver their way into some of the towns-people’s hearts. Reynaud’s patience nears empty as Vianne supports the Muscat break-up by giving Josephine a room to stay in until she finds somewhere on her own. He reaches boiling point when madness and rage take over his mind and he breaks into La Celeste Praline the morning before Mass and gobbles down chocolate after over a month of fasting. As people head to church in the morning, they see him through the window of the chocolate shop, face covered in chocolate. His reputation is tarnished and respect vanished. He runs away and is never heard of again.
Armande Voizin:
Armande Voizin is an eighty-year old woman who is full of life. She lives alone and faces constant criticism from her daughter. Like many women her age, stubbornness has kicked in as she refuses any medical care and is appalled by the thought of being sent to a retirement home. She has many health issues with diabetes and is forbidden to eat chocolate and to drink alcohol. Her mentality, however, is one with no restrictions. Her desire to live every second to the fullest causes constant bickering with her daughter Caro and keeps her from having a stable relationship with her grandson Luc. With the opening of Vianne’s chocolate shop, Armande begins to live again. Her sarcasm and perkiness are two very attractive qualities in her personality. She is a riot to be around. That explains why she manages to get close to Luc as soon as they begin meeting again. She is worldly and inquisitive, and with Vianne’s chocolate shop as the perfect meeting place, she and Luc hit it off and become close again. She provides good support for Vianne and acts as a foil through which Vianne evolves and faces her fears. Armande and Vianne share many aspects, mainly Reynaud’s hatred of them and their friendship with the River People. Her contribution ends the night after her 81st birthday. She hosts a dinner party with all her friends and catering organized by Josephine and Vianne. She plans a timely death as she does not take her insulin shots that night. She tells Vianne a few days earlier but has her mind set already. She passes away peacefully in her sleep.
Josephine Muscat:
Josephine Muscat first appears as a nervous introvert. She is quiet and slumps when she walks. She is gossiped about and pitied throughout Lansquenet as the fact that her husband physically abuses her is one of the worst-kept secrets around. She does not mutter a word about it and her thoughts are so cloudy that even Vianne, with all her power, fails to understand what lies in her head. With time, Josephine begins to talk to Vianne more and begins to spend more time in the chocolate shop. Vianne’s influence and advice eventually result in Josephine leaving her husband Paul and moving in with Vianne in the chocolate’s shop spare room. The more time she spends with Vianne, the more Josephine’s personality blossoms. She now walks with her head held high and has substituted her dark wardrobe for a new, more colorful one. She speaks with an audible, confident voice and can now look people in the eyes. A spark is felt between her and Roux as they indulge in conversation and become closer when she moves to the chocolate shop and he settles in Lansquenet. She even faces Paul one last time on her own. That proves to be an act of stupidity as he beats her up before Vianne and Reynaud’s intervention. She is transformed from the average, abused housewife to the confident, independent female as the novel develops.
Minor:
Luc Clairmont:
Son of Claire and grandson of Armande, this young boy is very quiet and obedient. He stutters when he speaks but not when he reads. He has been brain-washed by his mother who has made him an obedient servant. She forbids him from spending time with his grandmother in fear of her influence. The rebel inside him, however, leads him to spending some time with his grandmother and they soon become close again. He is a well-educated boy with a mature mind on his shoulders. With the influence of his grandmother, he is no longer contained and held in captive by his mother.
Paul Muscat:
Paul is a short-tempered man who fails to control his rage. He owns a café and runs it with his wife Josephine. He berates her throughout the novel and physically abuses her. When he finally loses her, he enters a phase of depression and tries to win her back. He drinks and shuts down the café due to his lack of energy and sobriety. When he gets the chance to confront her one on one again, he goes back to the same old person he was and beats her up. He does not change throughout the novel.
Claire Clairmont:
Claire Clairmont is a typical, superficial, brown nosed woman. She worries about her mother but is also embarrassed by her. She has a good heart but her mind is too hollow to show it. She is a stereotypical figure in the novel and only serves as a foil to develop her son, Luc’s, personality.
Vianne Rocher:
Vianne Rocher is a young woman who comes to the isolate French town of Lansquenet. She is a single mother with one daughter, Anouk, and the novel makes no mention of the father. At first she is rejected and treated as an intruder. She moves into a derelict bakery and transforms it into La Céleste Praline, a small chocolaterie. Her chocolate proves to be a pathway into the hearts of many of the residents as the town is split into those who side with Vianne verses those who side with Reynaud. Her first friend is Armande Voizin who claims she sees Vianne for who she really is, some sort of witch who can read people’s minds. Later on, Vianne befriends the River people that Francis considers enemies and even makes love to their leader, Roux. He is the only man presence in her life. Her influence reunites Luc and his grandmother Armande after being so apart due to the shallowness of his mother, Caro, who believes Armande is a bad influence. Vianne appears as a calm and confident woman but beneath that lies insecurity and fear. She must overcome her habit of changing with the wind and must face the Black Man that has kept her on the run her entire life. She believes everyone has their own Black Man and that hers is Reynaud. She must face him in a silent, mental battle throughout her stay in Lansquenet. The cliché ‘this town ain’t big enough for the both of us’ provides the perfect summary of the novel as by the end of it, Reynaud runs off and Vianne finds her home.
Francis Reynaud:
Francis Reynaud, like any religious man in a small town, has a big influence on all the people of Lansquenet. His suspicions begin with the arrival of Vianne and Anouk and his initial strategy is to try and befriend the enemy. He offers her help in repairing the bakery but she refuses politely, emphasizing that she has got it all under control. He hopes that people will realize that she should be evicted on their own in fear of tarnishing his reputation. His plan works at first as concerned mothers begin to forbid their children from spending time with Anouk, as she plants wild ideas in to their heads. Also business is not running very smoothly at the chocolate shop and Reynaud begins to believe that it is just a matter of time before they leave with the changing of the wind. Despite it being Lent, Vianne and her chocolate maneuver their way into some of the towns-people’s hearts. Reynaud’s patience nears empty as Vianne supports the Muscat break-up by giving Josephine a room to stay in until she finds somewhere on her own. He reaches boiling point when madness and rage take over his mind and he breaks into La Celeste Praline the morning before Mass and gobbles down chocolate after over a month of fasting. As people head to church in the morning, they see him through the window of the chocolate shop, face covered in chocolate. His reputation is tarnished and respect vanished. He runs away and is never heard of again.
Armande Voizin:
Armande Voizin is an eighty-year old woman who is full of life. She lives alone and faces constant criticism from her daughter. Like many women her age, stubbornness has kicked in as she refuses any medical care and is appalled by the thought of being sent to a retirement home. She has many health issues with diabetes and is forbidden to eat chocolate and to drink alcohol. Her mentality, however, is one with no restrictions. Her desire to live every second to the fullest causes constant bickering with her daughter Caro and keeps her from having a stable relationship with her grandson Luc. With the opening of Vianne’s chocolate shop, Armande begins to live again. Her sarcasm and perkiness are two very attractive qualities in her personality. She is a riot to be around. That explains why she manages to get close to Luc as soon as they begin meeting again. She is worldly and inquisitive, and with Vianne’s chocolate shop as the perfect meeting place, she and Luc hit it off and become close again. She provides good support for Vianne and acts as a foil through which Vianne evolves and faces her fears. Armande and Vianne share many aspects, mainly Reynaud’s hatred of them and their friendship with the River People. Her contribution ends the night after her 81st birthday. She hosts a dinner party with all her friends and catering organized by Josephine and Vianne. She plans a timely death as she does not take her insulin shots that night. She tells Vianne a few days earlier but has her mind set already. She passes away peacefully in her sleep.
Josephine Muscat:
Josephine Muscat first appears as a nervous introvert. She is quiet and slumps when she walks. She is gossiped about and pitied throughout Lansquenet as the fact that her husband physically abuses her is one of the worst-kept secrets around. She does not mutter a word about it and her thoughts are so cloudy that even Vianne, with all her power, fails to understand what lies in her head. With time, Josephine begins to talk to Vianne more and begins to spend more time in the chocolate shop. Vianne’s influence and advice eventually result in Josephine leaving her husband Paul and moving in with Vianne in the chocolate’s shop spare room. The more time she spends with Vianne, the more Josephine’s personality blossoms. She now walks with her head held high and has substituted her dark wardrobe for a new, more colorful one. She speaks with an audible, confident voice and can now look people in the eyes. A spark is felt between her and Roux as they indulge in conversation and become closer when she moves to the chocolate shop and he settles in Lansquenet. She even faces Paul one last time on her own. That proves to be an act of stupidity as he beats her up before Vianne and Reynaud’s intervention. She is transformed from the average, abused housewife to the confident, independent female as the novel develops.
Minor:
Luc Clairmont:
Son of Claire and grandson of Armande, this young boy is very quiet and obedient. He stutters when he speaks but not when he reads. He has been brain-washed by his mother who has made him an obedient servant. She forbids him from spending time with his grandmother in fear of her influence. The rebel inside him, however, leads him to spending some time with his grandmother and they soon become close again. He is a well-educated boy with a mature mind on his shoulders. With the influence of his grandmother, he is no longer contained and held in captive by his mother.
Paul Muscat:
Paul is a short-tempered man who fails to control his rage. He owns a café and runs it with his wife Josephine. He berates her throughout the novel and physically abuses her. When he finally loses her, he enters a phase of depression and tries to win her back. He drinks and shuts down the café due to his lack of energy and sobriety. When he gets the chance to confront her one on one again, he goes back to the same old person he was and beats her up. He does not change throughout the novel.
Claire Clairmont:
Claire Clairmont is a typical, superficial, brown nosed woman. She worries about her mother but is also embarrassed by her. She has a good heart but her mind is too hollow to show it. She is a stereotypical figure in the novel and only serves as a foil to develop her son, Luc’s, personality.
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