# Madame Jupillon — Germinie Lacerteux character guide > Madame Jupillon in Germinie Lacerteux by Edmond de Goncourt. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** VIII Madame Jupillon, Jupillon, XIII Madame Jupillon, Madame, young Jupillon **First appearance:** 0010-viii ## Snapshot A wheedling, tearful crémière whose shop becomes Germinie's second home and whose son becomes her ruin. ## Who they are Madame Jupillon runs the creamery where Germinie passes hours among gossip, dogs, and the drowsy comfort of familiar chairs, drawing the lonely maid into an intimacy built on chatter and confidences. A fawning, affected woman who weeps over curdled milk and newspaper items, she binds Germinie to her shop with invisible charms of habit and belonging. Through her, Germinie is drawn into the orbit of the younger Jupillon, and the shop's cozy warmth becomes the doorway to everything that undoes her. ## Relationships ### [Germinie Lacerteux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/germinie_lacerteux) _psychological_ Germinie is emotionally and financially exploited by Madame Jupillon, who manipulates her devotion to her son. ### [Mademoiselle de Varandeuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/mademoiselle_de_varandeuil) _social_ Madame Jupillon and Mademoiselle de Varandeuil are acquaintances from different social spheres, with underlying tension due to Germinie's involvement. ### [Adèle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/adele) _rivalry_ Adèle dislikes Madame Jupillon, seeing her as a manipulative figure who harms Germinie. ### [Bibi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/bibi) _family_ Bibi is Madame Jupillon's son, and she dotes on him while using Germinie's attachment to him for her own gain. ### [Cousin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/cousin) _social_ Cousin and Madame Jupillon are mere acquaintances, connected only through Germinie's orbit. ### [Père Remalard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/pere_remalard) _social_ Madame Jupillon and Père Remalard are casual acquaintances in the same neighborhood. ### [Germinie Lacerteux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/germinie_lacerteux) _psychological_ Germinie is emotionally and financially exploited by Madame Jupillon, who manipulates her devotion to her son. ### [Germinie Lacerteux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/germinie_lacerteux) _psychological_ Germinie is emotionally and financially exploited by Madame Jupillon, who manipulates her devotion to her son. ### [Mademoiselle de Varandeuil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/mademoiselle_de_varandeuil) _social_ Madame Jupillon and Mademoiselle de Varandeuil are acquaintances from different social spheres, with underlying tension due to Germinie's involvement. ### [Cousin](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/cousin) _social_ Cousin and Madame Jupillon are mere acquaintances, connected only through Germinie's orbit. ### [Adèle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/adele) _rivalry_ Adèle dislikes Madame Jupillon, seeing her as a manipulative figure who harms Germinie. ### [Bibi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/bibi) _family_ Bibi is Madame Jupillon's son, and she dotes on him while using Germinie's attachment to him for her own gain. ## In the story ### [Germinie Lacerteux](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/germinie-lacerteux) The mother of Jupillon, who becomes a figure of manipulation in Germinie's life. ### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/vii) The new crémière, a corpulent and sentimental woman from the same region as Germinie, who quickly ensnares her with flattery and affection. ### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/viii) Mother of Bibi, claims to be a widow, has a carbuncle on her leg that prevents her from visiting her son for eighteen months. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/ix) Madame Jupillon runs the creamery and refuses to turn away Adèle, a good customer, despite Germinie's pleas. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xi) Takes advantage of Germinie's devotion, resting while Germinie works and counting her money. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xii) Jupillon is Germinie's companion on these walks; he wears a flannel shirt and velvet cap, and they stroll together through the outskirts. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xiii) Madame Jupillon uses feigned maternal tenderness and hypocritical assurances to encourage Germinie's hopes and ultimately secure her compliance. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xiv) Madame Jupillon is mentioned as the mother of Jupillon, whose shop Mademoiselle visits. ### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xv) Mentioned indirectly as Jupillon's mother, but not directly featured in this chapter. ### [XVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xvi) Referred to as Jupillon; Germinie finds him sitting with two women at a table. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xvii) Jupillon is the object of Germinie's obsessive love; he returns to the balls despite his promise. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xviii) Mentioned as the mother whose purse Jupillon complains cannot provide the funds for his business. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xix) Jupillon suggests telling his mother only after the birth to force her consent. ### [Chapter XX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xx) Not directly present, but her son Jupillon appears and takes the midwife money from Germinie. ### [XXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxi) Jupillon accompanies Germinie on visits to their child, though he is more interested in fishing. ### [XXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxii) Weeps over a charcoal woman's dying child, triggering Germinie's flight. ### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxiv) Brings her niece from the province to help at the creamery, exacerbating Germinie's jealousy. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxv) Madame Jupillon is present at the creamery; Germinie calls for the bottle from her. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxvi) Manipulates Germinie into confessing, then feigns shock and moral outrage to reject her, using Germinie's age and lack of status as pretext. ### [XXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxvi) Dresses up and is sent out by his mother; remains passive and complicit in the scheme. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxvii) Mentioned as the aunt of the girl Germinie rejects; Germinie's hostility toward her is evident. ### [XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxix) Complains about her son's draft number and lost money, but ultimately agrees to Jupillon's scheme to use Germinie. ### [The Reckoning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxx) Madame Jupillon feigns regret and weeps to create a dramatic reconciliation scene. ### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxxi) Madame Jupillon embraces Germinie in gratitude upon receiving the money, but Germinie is too exhausted to stay. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxxii) Not directly present, but Jupillon's actions are central; she is the mother of the man Germinie loves. ### [XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xxxvii) Jupillon is the object of Germinie's obsessive love, treating her with disdain and forcing degrading concessions from her. ### [XL](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xl) Referred to as Jupillon; Germinie's lover who pressures her for money. ### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/xliii) Mentioned as having left the neighborhood; her successor now torments Germinie. ### [L](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/l) Referenced indirectly through Germinie's debts incurred on Jupillon's account, contributing to her fear of financial ruin. ### [Chapter LV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/lv) Jupillon is mentioned as the man Germinie confronts; the character is referred to as Jupillon. ### [LVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/lvi) Mentioned indirectly as Jupillon's mother, but not directly present in this chapter. ### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/lvii) Implicitly present as Jupillon's mother; the scene centers on Jupillon's lodgings. ### [LXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/chapters/lxviii) Mentioned as part of the Jupillon family that led to Germinie's ruin. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters/madame_jupillon - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/germinie_lacerteux_se/characters