# Madame Hochon — The Celibates character guide

> Madame Hochon in The Celibates by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Madame Hochon, Hochon, good Madame Hochon, old Madame Hochon, Madame, old Hochon

**First appearance:** 0000-story-i-pierrette

## Snapshot

A gentle, pious old woman whose kindness to Pierrette becomes a quiet protest against the cruelty ruling her own household and town.

## Who they are

Madame Hochon is the godmother and fragile protector of Pierrette, offering the girl what warmth she can within the limits of her age, her husband's caution, and provincial decorum. Her compassion puts her at odds with the Rogrons' calculated harshness, yet her power to intervene is painfully small. She matters because her helpless tenderness sharpens the novel's indictment of those who abuse the weak while claiming respectability.

## In the story

### [Pierrette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_celibates_se/chapters/pierrette)

Referred to as Pierrette's grandmother, she cares for Pierrette during her illness and sleeps by her side.

### [A Bachelor's Establishment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_celibates_se/chapters/a-bachelor-s-establishment)

She supports Philippe's plan and visits Flore to persuade her to marry Rouget.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_celibates_se/characters/madame_hochon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_celibates_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_celibates_se/characters