Les Misérables · Character

Dahlia

One of Fantine's friends in Paris, a grisette.

minor

Also known as Miss Dahlia

First appearance: A Double Quartette

Dahlia shows up with force in In the Year 1817. The page is where that presence becomes real.

A young woman in the group, Dahlia is portrayed as pretty and somewhat naive, caught up in the frivolity of the era.

In the storyIn the Year 1817Open this moment free

See Dahlia in In the Year 1817 Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

In In the Year 1817: A young woman in the group, Dahlia is portrayed as pretty and somewhat naive, caught up in the frivolity of the era. Later, in In the Year 1817: One of the four young women, companion to Listolier,…

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Dahlia sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Dahlia in A Double Quartette

Character Web

15 connections

A slice of how Dahlia sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Fantine's Parisian circle
Protagonist
Main characters and revolutionaries

+10 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Marius’s psychological peak occurs as he is overwhelmed by a “whirlwind” of confusion, realizing that his pers…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

In the story

Dahlia appears across 15 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

In the Year 1817
A young woman in the group, Dahlia is portrayed as pretty and somewhat naive, caught up in the frivolity of the era.
In the Year 1817
One of the four young women, companion to Listolier, portrayed as naive and easily pleased.
A Double Quartette
A mistress of Listolier, known for her pretty nails and drawn to idleness.
A Double Quartette
A mistress of Listolier, named after a flower. She is drawn to idleness and has pretty nails that she keeps from working.
Four and Four
Completes the pair with Zéphine, both clinging to each other out of coquetry, with melancholy dawning in their demeanor.
Four and Four
Completes Zéphine, with whom she never parts, also wearing her hair in rolls and adopting English poses, more from coquetry than friendship.
Tholomyès Is So Merry That He Sings a Spanish Ditty
One of the four couples enjoying the day.
A Chapter in Which They Adore Each Other
Dahlia quietly questions Favorite about her feelings for Blachevelle, prompting Favorite's candid confession.
VI: A Chapter in Which They Adore Each Other
Humming and conversing with Favorite during the meal.
VII: The Wisdom of Tholomyès
Mentioned by Tholomyès, who suggests she should call herself Rosa.
VII: The Wisdom of Tholomyès
Mentioned by Tholomyès, who suggests she should call herself Rosa.
VIII: The Death of a Horse
Criticizes Fantine's sympathy for the horse, calling her foolish.
The Death of a Horse
Criticizes Fantine's sympathy for the horse, calling her foolish.
IX: A Merry End to Mirth
Joins in the laughter and attributes the letter's idea to Tholomyès.
IX: A Merry End to Mirth
Dahlia identifies Tholomyès as the likely author of the letter and joins in the laughter.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Dahlia unlock in the free preview.

See Dahlia in A Double Quartette

See Dahlia in In the Year 1817