# Gräuben — Journey to the Center of the Earth character guide

> Gräuben in Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Mademoiselle Gräuben

**First appearance:** 0006-vii-a-woman-s-courage

## Who they are

Axel's gentle, clear-eyed beloved, whose quiet courage and matter-of-fact faith in science push him toward the adventure he dreads.

## In the story

### [The Professor and His Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/i-the-professor-and-his-family)

The Professor's goddaughter, a young Virlandaise of seventeen, living in the household.

### [III: The Runic Writing Exercises the Professor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/iii-the-runic-writing-exercises-the-professor)

Mentioned in Axel's daydream and inadvertently in his written sentence; she is Axel's beloved and an accomplished mineralogist.

### [The Enemy to Be Starved Into Submission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/iv-the-enemy-to-be-starved-into-submission)

Axel considers confiding in Gräuben but is unable to leave the house.

### [VII: A Woman’s Courage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/vii-a-woman-s-courage)

Gräuben displays remarkable courage and composure, encouraging Axel to undertake the expedition and promising to marry him upon his return. She helps pack his belongings and remains calm throughout.

### [VIII: Serious Preparations for Vertical Descent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/viii-serious-preparations-for-vertical-descent)

Axel's beloved, mentioned wistfully as he imagines walking with her in Copenhagen; she is far away.

### [IX: Iceland! But What Next?](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/ix-iceland-but-what-next)

Not present in this chapter.

### [XIX: Geological Studies In Situ](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/xix-geological-studies-in-situ)

Axel thinks of meeting his little Gräuben again, providing emotional motivation.

### [XXVII: Lost in the Bowels of the Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/xxvii-lost-in-the-bowels-of-the-earth)

Axel recalls his poor Gräuben and his life in Hamburg as his memory flashes before him during his crisis.

### [XXXII: Wonders of the Deep](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/xxxii-wonders-of-the-deep)

Axel suggests naming the harbour Port Gräuben in her honour, associating her memory with the expedition.

### [Preparations for Blasting a Passage to the Centre of the Earth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/xl-preparations-for-blasting-a-passage-to-the-centre-of-the-earth)

Axel briefly remembers Gräuben, who must have given them up for lost, but dismisses the thought in his excitement.

### [XLII: Headlong Speed Upward Through the Horrors of Darkness](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/xlii-headlong-speed-upward-through-the-horrors-of-darkness)

Axel's thoughts turn to Gräuben as he remembers his life above ground, highlighting his longing for her and the world he left behind.

### [All's Well That Ends Well](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/chapters/xlv-all-s-well-that-ends-well)

Joyfully reunites with Axel and becomes his wife.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/characters/grauben
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/journey_to_the_center_of_the_earth_se/characters