# Esdras — Maria Chapdelaine character guide

> Esdras in Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the Race Esdras

**First appearance:** 0005-vi-the-stuff-of-dreams

## Who they are

A local man, possibly a neighbor or relative of the Chapdelaines.

## Relationships

### [Maria Chapdelaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/maria_chapdelaine)

_family_

Esdras is Maria's brother, and they share a typical sibling bond in a hardworking pioneer family.

### [Maria Chapdelaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/maria_chapdelaine)

_family_

Esdras is Maria's brother, and they share a typical sibling bond in a hardworking pioneer family.

## In the story

### [IV: Wild Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/iv-wild-land)

Returns from the shanties; described as tall with a Neronian profile, domineering yet patient and kind; works clearing land.

### [The Vows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/v-the-vows)

Listens to the tales of former times and remarks on the easy journey to the railway now.

### [VI: The Stuff of Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/vi-the-stuff-of-dreams)

Esdras is one of the sons who cuts hay with the scythe during the haymaking.

### [Entrenched Against Winter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/viii-entrenched-against-winter)

Esdras helps protect the house foundation and later goes to the shanties in November.

### [XVI: Pledged to the Race](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/xvi-pledged-to-the-race)

Returns from the shanties in May, his grieving renews the family's pain over François's death.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/esdras
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters