# Noirtier de Villefort — The Count of Monte Cristo character guide > Noirtier de Villefort in The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Noirtier, M. Noirtier, Grandpapa Noirtier **First appearance:** 0057-lviii-m-noirtier-de-villefort ## Snapshot A paralyzed former Jacobin who can neither move nor speak, yet rules his family from a chair by the sheer force of his eyes. ## Who they are Noirtier de Villefort is the living scandal his son the procureur has spent a career burying: a revolutionary who once belonged to the same political underworld that destroyed Edmond Dantès. Stripped of speech and motion by illness, he communicates through blinks and glances, and uses that narrow channel to dictate wills, disinherit the ambitious, and protect the granddaughter he loves. His silent war with his son over the family's fortune and honor makes him one of the most quietly formidable figures in the Paris chapters. ## In the story ### [VII: The Examination](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/vii-the-examination) Villefort's father; the letter's recipient, whose Bonapartist past threatens Villefort's career. ### [The Corsican Ogre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xi-the-corsican-ogre) Noirtier appears unannounced at Villefort's hotel, asserting his authority as a Bonapartist and father. ### [Father and Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xii-father-and-son) Noirtier, a Bonapartist and vice-president of a club, visits his son. He coolly admits to involvement in General Quesnel's death, disguises himself to avoid arrest, and advises Villefort to be secretive and submissive. ### [The Hundred Days](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xiii-the-hundred-days) All-powerful at Napoleon's court, he protects Villefort from dismissal despite the latter's royalist past. ### [XVII: The Abbé’s Chamber](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xvii-the-abb-s-chamber) Identified as Villefort's father and the recipient of the letter that Dantès was forced to swear secrecy about. ### [Ideology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xlviii-ideology) Referenced as Villefort's father, a former Jacobin now paralyzed by apoplexy, used as an example of fate's cruel power. ### [Pyramus and Thisbe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/li-pyramus-and-thisbe) Valentine mentions her paralyzed grandfather as her only friend and supporter, a 'living corpse' who can only communicate with his eyes. ### [LII: Toxicology](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lii-toxicology) Mentioned as the grandfather with whom Valentine is often found, though she is not with him at the moment. ### [M. Noirtier de Villefort](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lviii-m-noirtier-de-villefort) The paralyzed patriarch, whose only means of communication is through his eyes. He reacts with fury to the news of Valentine's betrothal to the son of his old enemy. ### [The Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lix-the-will) Dictates his will through eye signals, disinheriting Valentine if she marries Franz d'Épinay and leaving his fortune to charity. ### [LX: The Telegraph](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lx-the-telegraph) Though not present in the scene, he is the central figure of discussion, having dictated a will disinheriting Valentine due to her engagement to Franz d'Épinay. ### [Madame de Saint-Méran](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lxxii-madame-de-saint-m-ran) Noirtier is mentioned indirectly through his servant Barrois, who is frightened by the news of death, and through the marchioness's reference to him as a Jacobin, highlighting the family's political tensions. ### [The Promise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lxxiii-the-promise) The paralyzed patriarch communicates through eye movements, rejecting Morrel's proposed plans and signaling that he himself will provide help. ### [The Villefort Family Vault](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lxxiv-the-villefort-family-vault) Dictates his will disinheriting Valentine and demands to speak with Franz. ### [A Signed Statement](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lxxv-a-signed-statement) Orchestrates the revelation of the secret document, using his eyes and a dictionary to communicate, and maintains a commanding presence throughout. ### [LXXVIII: We Hear from Yanina](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lxxviii-we-hear-from-yanina) Breaks off Valentine's engagement to Franz and later rewrites his will in her favor. ### [The Lemonade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lxxix-the-lemonade) The paralyzed patriarch who orchestrates the meeting and the plan for Valentine's future. He watches Barrois's poisoning with helpless fury and scrutinizes Madame de Villefort's reactions. ### [The Accusation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/lxxx-the-accusation) Revealed to be the intended target of the poison; his survival is due to his tolerance to brucine. ### [Valentine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xciii-valentine) Communicates through the dictionary, expresses deep worry about Valentine's health, and signals for investigation of the empty glass and decanter. ### [Maximilian's Avowal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/xciv-maximilian-s-avowal) Present in the room when Valentine collapses, indicating his awareness of the ongoing tragedy. ### [The Apparition](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/c-the-apparition) Noirtier is constantly present during the day, watching over Valentine with paternal tenderness. He has been fortifying her against poison by sharing his beverages. ### [CI: Locusta](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/ci-locusta) Noirtier is Valentine's grandfather; his precaution had previously neutralized the poison, and his love for Valentine is a reason she resolves to live. ### [CII: Valentine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/cii-valentine) Shows extreme alarm and directs Morrel to Valentine's room. ### [Maximilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/ciii-maximilian) Communicates through eye movements, confirms Valentine was murdered, and reveals the assassin's name to Villefort. ### [Danglars' Signature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/civ-danglars-signature) Found sleeping calmly in his armchair after Valentine's death, surprising Villefort and d'Avrigny. ### [The Judge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/cviii-the-judge) Watches from his window with a hateful glare directed at Madame de Villefort. ### [CXI: Expiation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/cxi-expiation) Mentioned as the indestructible old man, the sole survivor of the Villefort house. ### [The Fifth of October](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/chapters/cxvii-the-fifth-of-october) Mentioned in the letter as awaiting his granddaughter to bless her marriage. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/characters/noirtier_de_villefort - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_count_of_monte_cristo_se/characters