# Bernard Profitendieu — The Counterfeiters character guide > Bernard Profitendieu in The Counterfeiters by André Gide. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Bernard, Master Bernard, Profitendieu, Young Bernard Profitendieu, old Profitendieu **First appearance:** 0003-i-the-luxembourg-gardens ## Snapshot A judge's son who discovers he is illegitimate and runs away from home, hungry for freedom and a self he can call his own. ## Who they are Bernard burns with the desire to prove he is not merely the product of the respectable Profitendieu household, and his flight from home becomes an experiment in self-invention. He talks his way into serving as Edouard's secretary, drawn to the writer's freedom even as he bristles against his cool detachment. His restless curiosity — about Edouard's journal, about Laura, about the Vedel-Azaïs school — makes him the engine that keeps the novel's middle chapters moving. ## Relationships ### [Olivier Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/olivier_molinier) _friendship_ Bernard and Olivier are close friends and schoolmates, sharing intellectual and emotional confidences. ### [Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/edouard) _professional_ Bernard becomes Edouard's secretary and protégé, developing a respectful but somewhat formal bond. ### [Laura Douviers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/laura_douviers) _friendship_ Bernard helps Laura in her time of need, forming a supportive and chaste friendship. ### [Robert de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/robert_de_passavant) _rivalry_ Bernard dislikes and distrusts Robert de Passavant, seeing him as a corrupting influence on Olivier. ### [Madame Profitendieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/madame_profitendieu) _family_ Bernard discovers he is illegitimate and has a strained, distant relationship with his mother. ### [George Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/george_molinier) _social_ Bernard knows George as Olivier's younger brother and occasionally interacts with him, but they are not close. ### [Olivier Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/olivier_molinier) _friendship_ Bernard and Olivier are close friends and schoolmates, sharing intellectual and emotional confidences. ### [Laura Douviers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/laura_douviers) _friendship_ Bernard helps Laura in her time of need, forming a supportive and chaste friendship. ### [Olivier Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/olivier_molinier) _friendship_ Bernard and Olivier are close friends and schoolmates, sharing intellectual and emotional confidences. ### [Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/edouard) _professional_ Bernard becomes Edouard's secretary and protégé, developing a respectful but somewhat formal bond. ### [Laura Douviers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/laura_douviers) _friendship_ Bernard helps Laura in her time of need, forming a supportive and chaste friendship. ### [Robert de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/robert_de_passavant) _rivalry_ Bernard dislikes and distrusts Robert de Passavant, seeing him as a corrupting influence on Olivier. ## In the story ### [The Counterfeiters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/the-counterfeiters) Discovers his illegitimacy through hidden letters, leading to an existential crisis and decision to run away. ### [Part I: Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/part-i-paris) Discovers his illegitimacy through a letter and decides to run away from home. ### [I: The Luxembourg Gardens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/i-the-luxembourg-gardens) Discovers his illegitimacy through a hidden love letter and decides to leave home; seeks Olivier's help for shelter. ### [III: Bernard and Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iii-bernard-and-olivier) Visits Olivier at night, announces he has left home permanently, and discusses his plans for the future. ### [VI: Bernard Awakens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/vi-bernard-awakens) Protagonist; awakens from a dream, leaves Olivier, and embarks on a solitary morning adventure, reflecting on his bastardy and newfound freedom. ### [IX: Edouard and Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/ix-edouard-and-olivier) Briefly mentioned as following Edouard and Olivier from the station, picking up the discarded cloakroom ticket. ### [X: The Cloakroom Ticket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/x-the-cloakroom-ticket) Wakes on a bench, follows Olivier and Edouard, picks up the cloakroom ticket, retrieves the suitcase, finds money, and reads Edouard's notebook. ### [XIV: Bernard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xiv-bernard-and-laura) Resolves to save Laura after reading her letter; visits her hotel, confesses to taking Edouard's suitcase, and offers to become his secretary. ### [Part II: Saas-Fée](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/part-ii-saas-f-e) Arrives in Saas-Fée, grappling with his newfound freedom and identity after leaving Paris. ### [From Bernard to Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/i-from-bernard-to-olivier) Writes a long, enthusiastic letter to Olivier from Switzerland, describing his adventures with Edouard and Laura, and his admiration for Laura. ### [III: Edouard Explains His Theory of the Novel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iii-edouard-explains-his-theory-of-the-novel) Listens to Edouard's discourse with attention and skepticism; feels his mind waver but remains critical; serves as Edouard's secretary but has little actual work; enjoys a comfortable life and believes in his star. ### [Bernard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iv-bernard-and-laura) Reflects on his illegitimacy, his relationship with his adoptive father, and his desire for honesty; offers to help Edouard with his novel. ### [From Olivier to Bernard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/vi-from-olivier-to-bernard) Proposes to work at the Vedel-Azaïs school to earn his living and be near Boris; feels curiosity about Armand and Sarah Vedel. ### [VII: The Author Reviews His Characters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/vii-the-author-reviews-his-characters) The author reflects on Bernard's early rebellion and subsequent conformity, noting his generosity but also his reliance on books over life. ### [I: Edouard’s Journal: Oscar Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/i-edouard-s-journal-oscar-molinier) Subject of Molinier's gossip; revealed to be illegitimate and has run away from home. ### [The First Day of the Term](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iv-the-first-day-of-the-term) Bernard visits Edouard and shares his observations of the first day, including his impressions of Armand and other boys, but feels sad and leaves early. ### [V: Olivier Meets Bernard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/v-olivier-meets-bernard) After his French examination, Bernard meets Olivier. He defends traditional French values and artistic depth, angrily rejecting the superficial ideas he attributes to Passavant. ### [VII: Olivier and Armand](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/vii-olivier-and-armand) Mentioned as having promised to attend the Argonauts' dinner, which Olivier mentions to Armand. ### [The Argonauts’ Dinner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/viii-the-argonauts-dinner) Accompanies Edouard and Sarah to the dinner; observes the scene and feels uncomfortable with Sarah's attention. ### [Olivier and Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/ix-olivier-and-edouard) Spends the night with Sarah, leaves early, recalls Laura's words, tries to study, then goes to Edouard's with Lucien. ### [X: Olivier’s Convalescence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/x-olivier-s-convalescence) Visits Olivier, studies for his viva voce; reflects that his place is not with Edouard, as he is now involved with Sarah. ### [XIII: Edouard’s Journal: Douviers’ Profitendieu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xiii-edouard-s-journal-douviers-profitendieu) Mentioned by Profitendieu; passed his written examination brilliantly, wrote a remarkable French essay, and is proud and easily offended. ### [XIV: Bernard and the Angel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xiv-bernard-and-the-angel) Passes his baccalauréat, wrestles with an angel, refuses to sign a political pledge, and feels guilt over his affair with Sarah. ### [XV: Bernard Visits Edouard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xv-bernard-visits-edouard) Arrives at Edouard's with his belongings, having left the Vedels'. He is grave and matured, refusing to return to his father's house or take his money, seeking to prove himself. ### [XVII: Armand and Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xvii-armand-and-olivier) Mentioned as having left the pension and as having been involved with Sarah. ### [XX: Edouard's Journal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xx-edouard-s-journal) Has returned to his father's house after learning the old judge is unwell. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/bernard_profitendieu - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters