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Against the Grain · Character

Madame Laure

Proprietress of a brothel visited by Des Esseintes.

minor

Also known as Madame, mother Laure

First appearance: VII

Madame Laure shows up with force in VI. The page is where that presence becomes real.

The madam of the brothel where Des Esseintes brought Auguste.
In the storyVIOpen this moment free

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In VI: The madam of the brothel where Des Esseintes brought Auguste. Later, in VII: Memories of Madame Laure are associated with Des…

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The fuller portrait of Madame Laure sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Madame Laure in VII

Character Web

3 connections

A slice of how Madame Laure sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

DEDes EsseintesPCPère ChocarneCHChristMLMadame Laure

Relationship types

  • Other

Character groups

  • Eclectic cultural references
  • Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

SetupEscalationClimax
  • Setup
  • Escalation
  • Breaking point

The emotional and psychological peak occurs in the narrator's horrifying self-confrontation in the mirror, whe…

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In the story

Madame Laure appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Madame Laure unlock in the free preview.

See Madame Laure in VII