# Jean Prouvaire — Les Misérables character guide

> Jean Prouvaire in Les Misérables by Victor Hugo.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Prouvaire, Jeanne

**First appearance:** 0032-book-iii-in-the-year-1817

## Who they are

A poetic student revolutionary who dies at the barricade.

## In the story

### [A Group Which Barely Missed Becoming Historic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/i-a-group-which-barely-missed-becoming-historic)

A poet and scholar who loves flowers, music, and the people. He is learned in multiple languages and prefers immense poetry, studying social questions by day and contemplating planets by night.

### [Marius' Astonishments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/iii-marius-astonishments)

Jean Prouvaire is noted as the only one who sometimes says 'Napoleon' instead of 'Bonaparte'.

### [The Back Room of the Café Musain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/iv-the-back-room-of-the-caf-musain)

Engaged in a poetic debate defending pagan mythology against Christian mythology.

### [A Group Which Barely Missed Becoming Historic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/i-a-group-which-barely-missed-becoming-historic)

A poet and scholar who loves flowers, music, and the people; learned in multiple languages, prefers immense poetry, and contemplates both social questions and the stars.

### [Enlargement of Horizon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/v-enlargement-of-horizon)

One of the young men fencing in the conversation, though not directly quoted.

### [Marius' Astonishments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/iii-marius-astonishments)

Jean Prouvaire is noted as the only one among the group who sometimes says 'Napoleon' instead of 'Bonaparte'.

### [The Back Room of the Café Musain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/iv-the-back-room-of-the-caf-musain)

Passionately defending pagan mythology in a poetic debate, Prouvaire argues that the ancient gods still linger in nature, showing his romantic enthusiasm.

### [Enlargement of Horizon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/v-enlargement-of-horizon)

One of the young men fencing in the conversation.

### [VI: Taken Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vi-taken-prisoner)

Jean Prouvaire is present at the Café Voltaire and comments on Marius's serious state of mind.

### [VI: Taken Prisoner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vi-taken-prisoner)

Jean Prouvaire is present at the Café Voltaire and responds to Courfeyrac's observation about Marius, stating that Marius's behavior is 'serious.'

### [Enjolras and His Lieutenants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vi-enjolras-and-his-lieutenants)

Sent to bring news from the masons' lodge.

### [Enjolras and His Lieutenants](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vi-enjolras-and-his-lieutenants)

Assigned to gather news from the masons' lodge on Rue de Grenelle-Saint-Honoré.

### [Waiting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vi-waiting)

Recites love verses from his youth, adding a poignant, poetic tone to the waiting.

### [VIII: Many Interrogation Points with Regard to a Certain le Cabuc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/viii-many-interrogation-points-with-regard-to-a-certain-le-cabuc)

Watches Enjolras with admiration and compassion alongside Combeferre.

### [Waiting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/vi-waiting)

The gentle poet who murmurs the love verses, recalling youthful memories.

### [VIII: Many Interrogation Points with Regard to a Certain le Cabuc](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/viii-many-interrogation-points-with-regard-to-a-certain-le-cabuc)

Watches Enjolras with admiration and compassion after the execution.

### [End of the Verses of Jean Prouvaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/v-end-of-the-verses-of-jean-prouvaire)

Missing after the attack; heard shouting 'Vive la France!' before being executed.

### [End of the Verses of Jean Prouvaire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/v-end-of-the-verses-of-jean-prouvaire)

Missing after the attack; heard shouting 'Vive la France!' before being shot by the National Guard.

### [XII: Disorder a Partisan of Order](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/xii-disorder-a-partisan-of-order)

Mentioned as the poet who was shot by Fannicot's company earlier.

### [XII: Disorder a Partisan of Order](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/chapters/xii-disorder-a-partisan-of-order)

Mentioned as the poet who was shot by Fannicot's company earlier.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/characters/jean_prouvaire
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/les_miserables_se/characters