# Justin — Madame Bovary character guide

> Justin in Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** little Justin

**First appearance:** 0012-part-ii-ii

## Who they are

The Homais' young, infatuated assistant who works in the pharmacy.

## Relationships

### [Emma Bovary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters/emma_bovary)

_professional_

Justin is Homais's apprentice who is infatuated with Emma and runs errands for her, including accessing the arsenic.

### [Charles Bovary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters/charles_bovary)

_professional_

Charles interacts with Justin as a local youth and employee of Homais, unaware of his role in Emma's suicide.

### [Emma Bovary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters/emma_bovary)

_professional_

Justin is Homais's apprentice who is infatuated with Emma and runs errands for her, including accessing the arsenic.

### [Emma Bovary](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters/emma_bovary)

_professional_

Justin is Homais's apprentice who is infatuated with Emma and runs errands for her, including accessing the arsenic.

## In the story

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-ii-iv)

Homais's apprentice, who is fond of the Bovary household and is accused by Homais of being in love with Félicité and of eavesdropping.

### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-ii-vii)

Assists Charles with the bloodletting but faints at the sight of blood, requiring Emma and others to revive him. He is berated by Homais for his weakness.

### [The Deepening Affair and Plans for Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-ii-xii)

Serves as a messenger for Emma and Rodolphe. He lingers in the kitchen with Félicité, fascinated by Emma's clothes and cleaning the mud from her rendezvous boots.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-iii-i)

Mentioned indirectly as part of the past in Yonville ('our poor cactuses'), anchoring the conversation in shared history.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-iii-v)

Attends to Emma at home, helping her prepare with silent devotion. His presence hints at his infatuation with her.

### [The Final Desperation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-iii-viii)

Unwittingly assists Emma in obtaining the arsenic from Homais's laboratory, intimidated by her desperate demeanor.

### [The Funeral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-iii-x)

Found weeping alone at Emma's grave at night, his heart rent by an 'immense regret'; is later discovered by Lestiboudois.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters/justin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters