# Samuel Chapdelaine — Maria Chapdelaine character guide > Samuel Chapdelaine in Maria Chapdelaine by Louis Hémon. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Chapdelaine, O Samuel, Mr. Chapdelaine, Old Chapdelaine **First appearance:** 0000-i-peribonka ## Snapshot Maria's stubborn pioneer father, a man who clears land, moves his family deeper into the wilderness, and refuses to admit the country can defeat him. ## Who they are Samuel Chapdelaine greets neighbors with easy talk of the river and the ice, but beneath it lies an unyielding determination to carve a farm out of the backwoods no matter how many times the soil or the weather betrays him. He knows the walking routes to Lake St. John and speaks of them as another man might speak of a road, because for him the wild land is home. His refusal to retreat shapes the family's fate and gives Maria both her inheritance of endurance and the question of whether such a life is worth keeping. ## Relationships ### [Maria Chapdelaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/maria_chapdelaine) _family_ Samuel is Maria's father, a stern but loving pioneer who embodies the harsh life of the Quebec frontier. ### [Eutrope Gagnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/eutrope_gagnon) _social_ Eutrope is a neighbor and friend to Samuel, sharing the burdens and camaraderie of pioneer life. ### [François Paradis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/francois_paradis) _social_ François is known to Samuel as a young woodsman and a potential suitor for his daughter. ### [Ephrem Surprenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/ephrem_surprenant) _social_ Ephrem is a fellow settler and friend to Samuel, sharing the challenges of frontier life. ### [Lorenzo Surprenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/lorenzo_surprenant) _social_ Lorenzo is a neighbor and acquaintance of Samuel, though his city ways create some distance. ### [Maria Chapdelaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/maria_chapdelaine) _family_ Samuel is Maria's father, a stern but loving pioneer who embodies the harsh life of the Quebec frontier. ### [François Paradis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/francois_paradis) _social_ François is known to Samuel as a young woodsman and a potential suitor for his daughter. ### [Eutrope Gagnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/eutrope_gagnon) _social_ Eutrope is a neighbor and friend to Samuel, sharing the burdens and camaraderie of pioneer life. ### [Eutrope Gagnon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/eutrope_gagnon) _social_ Eutrope is a neighbor and friend to Samuel, sharing the burdens and camaraderie of pioneer life. ### [Lorenzo Surprenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/lorenzo_surprenant) _social_ Lorenzo is a neighbor and acquaintance of Samuel, though his city ways create some distance. ### [Ephrem Surprenant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/ephrem_surprenant) _social_ Ephrem is a fellow settler and friend to Samuel, sharing the challenges of frontier life. ### [Maria Chapdelaine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/maria_chapdelaine) _family_ Samuel is Maria's father, a stern but loving pioneer who embodies the harsh life of the Quebec frontier. ## In the story ### [I: Peribonka](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/i-peribonka) Maria's father, who regrets living far from church and sings hymns on the journey home. ### [Home in the Clearing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/ii-home-in-the-clearing) Passionate about clearing new land; expresses determination to 'make land' with his sons; dismisses concerns about ease and comfort. ### [IV: Wild Land](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/iv-wild-land) Leads the land-clearing effort; works with his sons and hired man; takes a midday nap before resuming work. ### [The Vows](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/v-the-vows) Participates in the discussion about past hardships and the changes in farming; questions Lorenzo about his intentions regarding the farm. ### [VI: The Stuff of Dreams](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/vi-the-stuff-of-dreams) Samuel Chapdelaine leads the haymaking, scans the skies for weather signs, and declares the hay safely under cover. ### [VII: A Meager Reaping](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/vii-a-meager-reaping) As head of the family, Samuel shares in the evening talk deploring the drought and frosts. ### [Entrenched Against Winter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/viii-entrenched-against-winter) Samuel works with Tit'Bé to haul and saw wood, and later settles by the stove, ensuring the house is supplied with water, wood, and food. ### [IX: One Thousand Aves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/ix-one-thousand-aves) Attempts to clear the road, blames himself for the family's isolation, and leads the children in singing hymns. ### [Straying Tracks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/x-straying-tracks) Expresses sorrow and humility, comparing human frailty to 'little children in the hand of the good God'; suggests having masses said for François. ### [XI: The Interpreter of God](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/xi-the-interpreter-of-god) Takes Maria to La Pipe for mass, hoping the church and meeting acquaintances will help her grief. ### [XII: Love Bearing Gifts](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/xii-love-bearing-gifts) Samuel questions the Frenchmen about their background and expresses amazement that they left urban trades for farming. ### [XIII: Love Bearing Chains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/xiii-love-bearing-chains) Samuel is present in the background, smoking by the stove, silently aware of Maria's dilemma. ### [XIV: Into the Deep Silence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/xiv-into-the-deep-silence) Tries to reassure his wife; considers fetching medicine; harnesses the horse for the doctor. ### [That We Perish Not](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/chapters/xv-that-we-perish-not) Sleeps beside his dead wife; reflects on his restless nature and his wife's unwavering support through many moves. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters/samuel_chapdelaine - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/maria_chapdelaine_se/characters