Calvary · Character

Lirat

A painter who has abandoned painting, a friend whose blunt judgments about Juliette haunt the narrator long after the wine is gone.

supporting

Also known as Monsieur Lirat, Joseph Lirat, Friend Lirat

First appearance: i

As a supporting figure in Calvary, Lirat is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Lirat reveals Juliette's identity and her scandalous behavior, delivers a passionate and misogynistic tirade about the destructive power of women over artists, and becomes…

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Lirat receives the narrator with open arms and cabbage soup, then launches into tirades against Rembrandt, Velázquez, and the whole fraudulent business of art. He is the one who first plants the suspicion that Juliette's past is dishonorable, making her a martyr in the narrator's fevered imagination. His restless, mocking intelligence gives the novel its counterweight to romantic delusion, and his friendship will prove as unstable as everything else.

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

See Lirat in i

Character Web

8 connections

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

Relationship types

Rivalry
Other

Character groups

Core family and intimates
Protagonist

+3 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

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

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Closing

This is the narrative climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak of the protagonist’s depend…

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Relationships

Juliette Roux
rivalry · negative
Juliette Roux and Lirat are locked in a tense, antagonistic struggle, possibly over the… How this plays out →
My Mother
rivalry · negative
My Father
rivalry · negative
Juliette Roux
rivalry · negative
Juliette Roux and Lirat are locked in a tense, antagonistic struggle, possibly over the… How this plays out →
My Mother
rivalry · negative
My Father
rivalry · negative
My Mother
rivalry · negative
Juliette Roux
rivalry · negative
Juliette Roux and Lirat are locked in a tense, antagonistic struggle, possibly over the… How this plays out →

Juliette Roux
Juliette Roux and Lirat are locked in a tense, antagonistic struggle, possibly over the Unknown.
My Mother
Lirat and My Mother are adversaries, possibly competing for influence over the Unknown or the family.
My Father
Lirat and My Father are in conflict, likely over family loyalty or control of resources.
Juliette Roux
Juliette Roux and Lirat are locked in a tense, antagonistic struggle, possibly over the Unknown.
My Mother
Lirat and My Mother are adversaries, possibly competing for influence over the Unknown or the family.
My Father
Lirat and My Father are in conflict, likely over family loyalty or control of resources.
My Mother
Lirat and My Mother are adversaries, possibly competing for influence over the Unknown or the family.
Juliette Roux
Juliette Roux and Lirat are locked in a tense, antagonistic struggle, possibly over the Unknown.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Lirat in i

In the story

Lirat appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

III
Lirat reveals Juliette's identity and her scandalous behavior, delivers a passionate and misogynistic tirade about the destructive power of women over artists, and becomes agitated and angry during the conversation.
IV
Receives the narrator warmly for dinner; expresses disdain for painting and plans to give it up.
V
Lirat is mentioned as the artist of two sketches the narrator wanted to hang, but Juliette dislikes them. The narrator hides them away, and Juliette later suggests he visit Lirat.
VIII
Lirat listens to the narrator's confession and urges him to cure himself, reminding him of his artistic potential.
IX
Mentioned as a past guest of Mother Le Gannec, known for his liveliness and appetite.
XII
Arrives at Juliette's house with her; the narrator confronts him in shock and anger.

Chapter companion notes

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

See Lirat in i

See Lirat in III