# Maigrat — Germinal character guide

> Maigrat in Germinal by Émile Zola.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Monsieur Maigrat

**First appearance:** 0002-part-i-i

## Snapshot

The company's cold, fat storekeeper, who extends credit to starving miners only when their wives or daughters are complaisant.

## Who they are

Once an overseer at the Voreux, Maigrat now runs the warehouse near the manager's house where the settlement buys on credit, his business fattened by Company protection. He prides himself on never changing his mind, and his small pale eyes undress the women who come begging for bread. When Maheude pleads for two loaves against a two-year-old debt, his refusal exposes the whole machinery of hunger that will drive the strike.

## In the story

### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-ii-ii)

Refuses Maheude credit initially, then later relents after hinting at wanting Catherine.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-iv-iii)

Maigrat cuts off credit to the strikers after a week, acting on orders from the Company, and spitefully denies provisions to Maheude.

### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-v-v)

Seen barricading his shop, pale and trembling with fear.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/characters/maigrat
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/characters