Characters Discussed
Julie d’Étange
Julie is a beautiful, intelligent, and charming woman. While she appears prim and proper, she also has a sense of adventure. In another time, without the constraints of her duties and societal expectations as a young noblewoman, Julie would not hesitate to pursue her happiness. In fact, she does just that by starting a passionate love affair with her tutor, St. Preux.
However, she is also very devout and virtuous and does not want to bring shame to her family, so she agrees to marry the man her father chooses for her. The arranged marriage makes her very sad, and she even considers harming herself. Fortunately, her cousin Claire is there to stop her and becomes her closest friend.
Julie is also very courageous, as she sacrifices her happiness to please her father, whom she respects and loves deeply, even though he does not allow her to be with the person she loves. She sacrifices her life trying to save her child from drowning. In the end, Julie dies without regretting her past, telling St. Preux that she is just dying again, but this time, she is free to love him and hopes to meet him in heaven to tell him she loves him once more.
The virtue that separated us on earth shall unite us in the eternal abode. I die in this flattering expectation. Only too happy to pay with my life the right to love thee still without crime, and to tell thee so one more time.
Saint Preux
Saint Preux is portrayed as a sensitive and passionate individual, deeply devoted to Julie. He is intelligent, well-educated, and idealistic, believing God has given people the ability and responsibility to do good things. Like Julie, he craves adventure but actually gets to explore and have thrilling experiences. Even though he is a "schoolmaster," his social status is not prestigious enough for Julie's father to accept him as her husband.
Unlike Julie, who mostly relies on reason, St. Preux follows his heart. He is deeply in love with Julie and feels immense joy when he realizes she feels the same way about him. He sees Julie as his soulmate, the perfect match for him, and believes she will always be by his side.
Julie, in truth, I think I have two souls, of which the good one lies in trust in your hands. ...O you who always determined my fate, do not cease to be its arbiter, weigh my reflections, pronounce; however you dispose of me, I submit, I will be worthy at least that you not cease to guide me. Were I never to see you again, you will always be present to me, you will always preside over my deeds.
Baron d’Étange
The baron is a nobleman who takes great pride in his family and their good reputation. Though he might seem stern and traditional, he is a caring father who wants what is best for his daughter. He understands that Julie and St. Preux are deeply in love but worries that their love will not lead to a good life for them.
He believes Julie deserves to marry someone from her social class so she can lead a comfortable life and maybe even be happy. He is heartbroken when his daughter dies before him, recognizing the sacrifices she made to please her family. He calls her "the glory of your family, the happiness of your household, the hope of the wretched."
Monsieur de Wolmar
De Wolmar is a respected nobleman and friend of the d’Étange family. Although not Catholic, he is interested in Catholic...
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concepts because of Julie's influence. He may not be deeply in love with Julie, but he is kind and wants to be a good husband and father.
He is content with his life and feels happy with Julie, even though he knows she loves someone else. He sees St. Preux as a friend and not a rival because he knows that both St. Preux and Julie are good and virtuous people. When Julie dies, de Wolmar asks St. Preux to come back and be with her in death. He feels grateful for making Julie happy and feels indebted to St. Preux for that.
Come unite with all that remains of her. Her father, her friend, her husband, and her children all await you, all desire you; they all feel you are needed. In a word, without explaining myself further, come share and heal my sorrows; I shall perhaps owe you more than anyone.
Lord Edward Bomston
Lord Bomston is an English aristocrat who becomes infatuated with Julie but sees her deeply in love with his friend, St. Preux. Instead of pursuing Julie, he supports their relationship as their friend. He helps St. Preux when he is sad about Julie marrying someone else and even organizes a trip around the world for him because he knows St. Preux loves adventure.
Bomston falls in love with two women, the Marchesa and Laura, but they are not good people—they are only after his money. St. Preux helps him realize this and advises him to be more careful with matters of the heart.
