# Father Cornemuse — Penguin Island character guide

> Father Cornemuse in Penguin Island by Anatole France.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the good Father Cornemuse, Cornemuse, the Reverend Father Cornemuse, old Cornemuse, the venerable Cornemuse

**First appearance:** 0041-i-the-reverend-fathers-agaric-and-cornemuse

## Snapshot

An old, venerable priest whose name attaches to Colomban, hinting at the tangled alliances between clergy and political schemers in Penguinia.

## Who they are

Father Cornemuse belongs to the clerical faction that moves alongside Agaric's political intrigues, his venerable age lending cover to maneuvers that are anything but innocent. His association with Colomban — the man later hounded through the streets as "Duck Colomban" — places him at the intersection of church authority and the scandals that convulse the insula. He matters as one of the quiet connectors through whom Penguinia's sacred and secular powers trade favors.

## Relationships

### [Father Agaric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/father_agaric)

_friendship_

Father Agaric and Father Cornemuse are fellow clergymen who collaborate in manipulating religious doctrine for power.

### [Father Agaric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/father_agaric)

_friendship_

Father Agaric and Father Cornemuse are fellow clergymen who collaborate in manipulating religious doctrine for power.

### [Father Agaric](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/father_agaric)

_friendship_

Father Agaric and Father Cornemuse are fellow clergymen who collaborate in manipulating religious doctrine for power.

## In the story

### [I: The Reverend Fathers Agaric and Cornemuse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/i-the-reverend-fathers-agaric-and-cornemuse)

A monk of Conils who distills religious products and is cautious about joining Agaric's conspiracy.

### [IV: Viscountess Olive](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/iv-viscountess-olive)

Provides funds to Agaric for hiring supporters to cheer Chatillon.

### [VI: The Emiral's Fall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/vi-the-emiral-s-fall)

Monk of Conils who reveals that the Duke of Ampoule has misappropriated funds; advises reducing the Viscountess Olive's allowance.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/vii-conclusion)

Suffers from the closure of his laboratory and is forced to enter through a window; blames Agaric for the failure.

### [V: The Reverend Fathers Agaric and Cornemuse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/v-the-reverend-fathers-agaric-and-cornemuse)

Distills the hygienic St. Orberosian liqueur; reluctantly provides funds for Agaric's campaign after being persuaded.

### [IX: Father Douillard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/ix-father-douillard)

Observes the aftermath of the sermon with dismay, foreseeing dire consequences for the Penguin church.

### [Conclusion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/chapters/xi-conclusion)

Driven from the Wood of Conils; his stills and liqueur bottles confiscated; loses annual income of three and a half million francs.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters/father_cornemuse
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/penguin_island_se/characters