# Vincent Molinier — The Counterfeiters character guide

> Vincent Molinier in The Counterfeiters by André Gide.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Vincent, Molinier, Lilian Vincent

**First appearance:** 0006-iv-vincent-and-the-comte-de-passavant

## Snapshot

Olivier's older brother, a promising medical student whose affair with Laura and friendship with Passavant pull him off course.

## Who they are

Vincent has just finished his medical exams and is torn between science and the need to earn a living, a tension Passavant exploits by hiring him to attend his ailing father. He got Laura with child and left her without means, and the five thousand francs his mother saved for his career are slipping away. His evenings with Passavant and Lady Griffith — witty, hollow, faintly corrosive — show a fine mind being blunted by the company it keeps.

## Relationships

### [Robert de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/robert_de_passavant)

_psychological_

Robert de Passavant manipulates Vincent, drawing him into a world of vice and moral corruption.

### [Laura Douviers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/laura_douviers)

_romantic_

Laura had a brief, secret affair with Vincent, which left her pregnant and abandoned.

### [Robert de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/robert_de_passavant)

_psychological_

Robert de Passavant manipulates Vincent, drawing him into a world of vice and moral corruption.

### [Robert de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/robert_de_passavant)

_psychological_

Robert de Passavant manipulates Vincent, drawing him into a world of vice and moral corruption.

### [Laura Douviers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/laura_douviers)

_romantic_

Laura had a brief, secret affair with Vincent, which left her pregnant and abandoned.

### [Laura Douviers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/laura_douviers)

_romantic_

Laura had a brief, secret affair with Vincent, which left her pregnant and abandoned.

## In the story

### [Part I: Paris](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/part-i-paris)

Olivier's older brother, having an affair with Laura Douviers and gambling away her money.

### [III: Bernard and Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iii-bernard-and-olivier)

Olivier's older brother, suspected of having a secret mistress.

### [Vincent and the Comte de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iv-vincent-and-the-comte-de-passavant)

Visits Passavant; has gambled away Laura's money and feels trapped by his obligations to her.

### [Vincent Meets Passavant at Lady Griffith’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/v-vincent-meets-passavant-at-lady-griffith-s)

Arrives at Lady Griffith's after winning fifty thousand francs at gambling; is given a key by Lilian to return later.

### [VII: Lilian and Vincent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/vii-lilian-and-vincent)

Lying in bed with Lilian, anxious and guilty about abandoning Laura; he is being molded by Lilian but struggles with remorse.

### [VIII: Edouard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/viii-edouard-and-laura)

Mentioned in Laura's letter as the man who promised to help her but gambled away the money and abandoned her.

### [XI: Edouard’s Journal: George Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xi-edouard-s-journal-george-molinier)

Reported to be recovering at a sanatorium; Edouard takes little interest in him.

### [XIV: Bernard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xiv-bernard-and-laura)

Referred to as Laura's lover who abandoned her.

### [XV: Olivier Visits the Comte de Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xv-olivier-visits-the-comte-de-passavant)

Mentioned as Olivier's brother; Passavant says he is dining with him that night.

### [XVI: Vincent and Lilian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xvi-vincent-and-lilian)

Vincent struggles with guilt and rationalization after abandoning Laura, confesses his fears to Lilian, and is drawn into a pact of ambition with her.

### [XVII: The Evening at Rambouillet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xvii-the-evening-at-rambouillet)

Engages in a lengthy discourse on nature, zoology, and botany; is cautious about Robert's proposal regarding Olivier and declines the financial offer.

### [From Bernard to Olivier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/i-from-bernard-to-olivier)

Mentioned as the one who abandoned Laura after causing her pregnancy.

### [Bernard and Laura](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/iv-bernard-and-laura)

Briefly mentioned as Laura's former lover; Bernard expresses jealousy of him.

### [VI: Edouard's Journal: Madame Molinier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/vi-edouard-s-journal-madame-molinier)

Mentioned as having once been the subject of Pauline's worries, but now she feels it is too late for him.

### [XII: Edouard and Then Strouvilhou Visit Passavant](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/chapters/xii-edouard-and-then-strouvilhou-visit-passavant)

Mentioned in Lilian's letter; traveling with her and engaging in botanizing and shooting.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters/vincent_molinier
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_counterfeiters_se/characters