# Madame Tellier — Short Fiction character guide

> Madame Tellier in Short Fiction by Guy de Maupassant.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Tellier, Madame

**First appearance:** 0059-madame-tellier-s-establishment

## Snapshot

The pragmatic proprietress of a brothel who closes up shop for a day to bring her girls to a country first communion, blending business with unexpected tenderness.

## Who they are

Madame Tellier runs her establishment with the efficiency of a household manager, keeping order among her girls and her clients alike. When she decides to attend her niece's first communion in the countryside, she packs up her entire troupe and treats the outing as a family obligation. Her blend of hard commerce and unspoken maternal feeling gives the story its comic warmth and its quiet sting.

## Relationships

### [Monsieur Parent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters/monsieur_parent)

_professional_

Madame Tellier and Monsieur Parent have a business-like relationship, possibly as client and madam.

### [Monsieur Parent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters/monsieur_parent)

_professional_

Madame Tellier and Monsieur Parent have a business-like relationship, possibly as client and madam.

### [Monsieur Parent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters/monsieur_parent)

_professional_

Madame Tellier and Monsieur Parent have a business-like relationship, possibly as client and madam.

## In the story

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/ii)

Referenced as the central figure in 'La Maison Tellier,' illustrating Maupassant's geniality and showmanship.

### [X: A Public Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/x-a-public-meeting)

Not present in this chapter.

### [Madame Tellier's Establishment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/madame-tellier-s-establishment)

The madam of the establishment, who organizes the trip to her niece's confirmation and maintains authority over her girls and brother.

### [Friend Joseph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/friend-joseph)

The pious, kind wife who is shocked by Joseph's disrespect toward the priest and his Republican newspapers, yet remains polite.

### [The Greenhouse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-greenhouse)

The maid who has a secret rendezvous in the greenhouse, which becomes the catalyst for the couple's reconciliation.

### [The Window](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-window)

Césarine, the maid of Mme. de Jadelle, whom the narrator seduces to gain information and revenge.

### [Misti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/misti)

The narrator's mistress, a married woman named Emma, who is superstitious and enjoys risky escapades.

### [Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/rose)

Marguerite (Madame Margot) tells the story of her maid Rose.

### [VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/viii)

Mme. Torchebeuf is godmother to Désirée, receives a gold bracelet, and walks with Cora along the Seine.

### [My Landlady](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/my-landlady)

Mme. Kergaran, the landlady, a stout, authoritative woman who develops a rough affection for the narrator.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/ii)

Referred to as Madame Chantal, the stout matriarch whose thoughts the narrator imagines as square blocks.

### [A Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/a-family)

Simon's wife, now a stout, overdressed mother with no elegance or wit, focused solely on her children and household.

### [The Marquis of Fumerol](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/the-marquis-of-fumerol)

Referred to as 'mamma'; the Comtesse de Tourneville, devout and determined to secure her brother's salvation.

### [Our Letters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/our-letters)

Mentioned as Madame Muret d'Artus, the hostess who installs the narrator in Aunt Rose's room.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/ii)

Mme. Bondel is the wife whose laughter and unexplained resentment toward Tancret fuel Bondel's jealousy.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/chapters/iii)

Not present in this chapter.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters/madame_tellier
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_23_se/characters