# Pierre Roland — Pierre and Jean character guide > Pierre Roland in Pierre and Jean by Guy de Maupassant. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Pierre, Roland, old Roland, father Roland, M'sieu Pierre, Monsieur Pierre, Dr. Pierre Roland **First appearance:** 0001-pierre-and-jean ## Snapshot The elder Roland son, a restless young doctor whose gnawing suspicion about his brother's sudden fortune begins to poison everything he once took for granted. ## Who they are Pierre is the family's educated son, trained in medicine but still scraping for patients while his younger brother coasts into easy money. His sharp, analytical mind — an asset in his profession — becomes a liability at home, where it feeds a corrosive jealousy and a need to know what others would rather leave buried. His escalating obsession with the source of Jean's inheritance drives the novel's central conflict, turning a quiet family into a battlefield of suspicion. ## Relationships ### [Jean Roland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/jean_roland) _rivalry_ Brothers consumed by jealousy and resentment, especially after Jean inherits a fortune that Pierre believes should be his. ### [Captain Beausire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/captain_beausire) _friendship_ Captain Beausire is a friendly acquaintance and fellow sailor who often socializes with Pierre. ### [Marowsko](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/marowsko) _friendship_ Marowsko is Pierre's loyal friend and confidant, a Polish chemist who listens to his troubles. ### [Louise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/louise) _professional_ Louise is the Roland family's maid, who interacts with Pierre in a domestic service role. ### [Old Roland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/old_roland) _family_ Father and son, but Old Roland is often dismissive and prefers Jean, deepening Pierre's bitterness. ### [Jean Roland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/jean_roland) _rivalry_ Brothers consumed by jealousy and resentment, especially after Jean inherits a fortune that Pierre believes should be his. ### [Louise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/louise) _professional_ Louise is the Roland family's maid, who interacts with Pierre in a domestic service role. ### [Jean Roland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/jean_roland) _rivalry_ Brothers consumed by jealousy and resentment, especially after Jean inherits a fortune that Pierre believes should be his. ### [Marowsko](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/marowsko) _friendship_ Marowsko is Pierre's loyal friend and confidant, a Polish chemist who listens to his troubles. ### [Captain Beausire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/captain_beausire) _friendship_ Captain Beausire is a friendly acquaintance and fellow sailor who often socializes with Pierre. ### [Captain Beausire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/captain_beausire) _friendship_ Captain Beausire is a friendly acquaintance and fellow sailor who often socializes with Pierre. ### [Old Roland](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/old_roland) _family_ Father and son, but Old Roland is often dismissive and prefers Jean, deepening Pierre's bitterness. ## In the story ### [Of "The Novel"](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/of-the-novel) Referenced as the protagonist of the novel 'Pierre and Jean', which Maupassant defends in this essay. ### [Pierre and Jean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/pierre-and-jean) Introduced as restless and observant, contrasting with his brother Jean. ### [Pierre and Jean](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/pierre-and-jean) Depicted as a jovial and somewhat boastful father, proud of his sons. ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/i) The elder son, a doctor, feels a vague jealousy toward Jean and is critical of his brother's easy nature. ### [Chapter I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/i) The father, a former jeweler, is delighted by the inheritance and dismisses his wife's concerns about fairness. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/ii) Pierre is restless and introspective, walking through Havre and grappling with his jealousy over Jean's inheritance. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/iii) Struggles with financial insecurity, jealousy, and suspicion about Jean's parentage; contemplates borrowing money from Jean. ### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/iii) Advocates for a leisurely life with wealth; brings home Captain Beausire and Mme. Rosémilly to celebrate. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/iv) Pierre is consumed by jealousy and suspicion, obsessively analyzing Maréchal's motives and his mother's past. He feels increasingly alienated from his family. ### [Chapter IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/iv) Old Roland recalls Maréchal's kindness during Pierre's childhood illness, unwittingly providing Pierre with more material for his suspicions. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/v) Pierre is consumed by jealousy and suspicion, scrutinizing his mother's actions and the portrait of Maréchal. He feels alienated from his family and leaves abruptly when Mme. Rosémilly arrives. ### [Chapter V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/v) Old Roland is oblivious to the underlying tension, reminiscing fondly about Maréchal and focusing on his own comfort and the inheritance. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/vi) Gloomy and bitter, he torments his mother with veiled accusations and suffers from remorse and self-loathing. ### [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/vi) Bewildered by the family tension, he questions Pierre's gloom and worries about his wife's health. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/vii) In a frenzy of despair, reveals the secret of Jean's birth to his brother, then flees bareheaded. ### [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/vii) Mentioned as snoring in bed while the events unfold. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/viii) Feels alienated and guilty after revealing the secret. He considers leaving home and is offered a position as ship's doctor on the Lorraine. ### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/viii) Present at dinner, unaware of the underlying tensions. He discusses the Lorraine with Jean and expresses interest in touring the ship. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/ix) Receives appointment as ship's doctor on the Lorraine; feels relief and melancholy; becomes distant from family; softens before departure; spends last night in cabin reflecting. ### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/chapters/ix) Claps hands in joy at Pierre's appointment; suggests watching the Lorraine from the Pearl; approves Jean's engagement. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters/pierre_roland - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/pierre_and_jean_se/characters