# Souvarine — Germinal character guide > Souvarine in Germinal by Émile Zola. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Only Rasseneur, Rasseneur of Souvarine, Rasseneur, Already Rasseneur **First appearance:** 0003-part-i-ii ## Snapshot A pale, silent mechanic from Russia who lodges at Rasseneur's and carries a nihilist's contempt for every cause that stops short of annihilation. ## Who they are Souvarine watches the rivalry between Étienne and Rasseneur with a cold, almost girlish smile, unmoved by their talk of the International and the coming meeting. He has given his life to destruction in obscurity, and he finds the miners' hopes sentimental. His presence in the background of the strike is a quiet warning: there are men who want the world to burn, not to be rebuilt. What he does with that conviction shapes the novel's darkest turn. ## Relationships ### [Étienne Lantier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/characters/etienne_lantier) _friendship_ Étienne is intellectually influenced by Souvarine, a nihilist anarchist, but their ideological differences create tension. ### [Étienne Lantier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/characters/etienne_lantier) _friendship_ Étienne is intellectually influenced by Souvarine, a nihilist anarchist, but their ideological differences create tension. ### [Étienne Lantier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/characters/etienne_lantier) _friendship_ Étienne is intellectually influenced by Souvarine, a nihilist anarchist, but their ideological differences create tension. ## 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) Expounds anarchist views on destruction and the iron law of wages. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-iii-iii) Lends books to Étienne, including works on cooperative societies, influencing his anarchist ideas. ### [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) Dismisses the strike as 'foolery' but accepts it as a step, and advocates for destruction of the Voreux. ### [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. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-iv-iv) Listens silently and expresses contempt for both Étienne and Rasseneur's arguments. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-iv-v) Souvarine is mentioned as having accused the Company of pushing the strike to destroy the Provident Fund. ### [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. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-iv-vii) Mentioned as approving of Étienne's anarchist ideas, except for the emphasis on education. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-v-iii) Refuses to join the demonstration, advocates for more destructive methods. ### [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) Expresses nihilistic and revolutionary fervor, lamenting the cowardice of men and dreaming of total destruction. ### [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 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 II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-vii-ii) Sabotages the Voreux mine by damaging the lower tubbing, driven by a desire to destroy the mine. Later reveals the story of his lover Annutchka's execution in Russia. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/chapters/part-vii-iii) Watches from the pit-bank, then leaves to continue his campaign of destruction. ### [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 in Étienne's memory as a figure whose individualism spoiled collective action. ### [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/souvarine - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinal_se/characters