# Rasseneur — Germinal character guide

> Rasseneur in Germinal by Émile Zola.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Madame Rasseneur, Citizen Rasseneur

**First appearance:** 0003-part-i-ii

## Snapshot

The former miner turned tavern-keeper of the Avantage, whose easy socialism and warm bar make him the settlement's natural spokesman.

## Who they are

Dismissed from the Voreux for his politics, he now pours drinks and holds forth to a room of colliers who trust him, and it is at his tables that Étienne first meets Souvarine and learns to argue. His cautious, comfortable radicalism will collide with Étienne's fiercer demands as the strike hardens, splitting the movement from within. He is the voice of the miners' ordinary grievances before hunger turns them into something else.

## In the story

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-i-vi)

The innkeeper who discusses the miners' misery and the possibility of revolt, and agrees to lodge Étienne.

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-iii-i)

Discusses forming a section at Montsou and practical concerns about subscriptions.

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-iii-i)

Voices complaints about high prices and supports revolutionary talk.

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

Étienne visits the Avantage to discuss with Rasseneur and Souvarine against the Company.

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

Opposes the strike, arguing for compromise and expressing jealousy of Étienne's popularity.

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

Rasseneur opposes Pluchart's involvement and has a following among the miners, creating tension with Étienne.

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

Opposes the meeting and argues with Étienne, accusing him of ambition.

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

Attempts to speak for conciliation but is rejected and booed by the crowd, marking his fall from influence.

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

Rasseneur confronts Étienne from the Estaminet Tison, warning him that the situation has become dangerous and criticizing his leadership.

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

Attempts to mediate the fight and argues pragmatically against Souvarine's extremism.

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

Silently supports the fight, removes glasses from the counter, and shows contempt for her husband's caution.

### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-vii-i)

Rasseneur shelters Étienne and speaks to the mob, regaining his own popularity with moderate, conciliatory words.

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

His dog barks at the crowd; his bar's wall cracks from the subsidence.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-vii-vi)

Mentioned alongside Souvarine as an example of internal dissension in the International.

## Links

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