The Devil’s Pool · Character

Father Maurice

Germain's aging father-in-law, who nudges his grieving son-in-law back toward marriage and the continuation of family life.

supporting

Also known as Maurice

First appearance: II: Father Maurice

As a supporting figure in The Devil’s Pool, Father Maurice is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Father Maurice initiates the conversation about Germain's remarriage, emphasizing duty to the children and the household.

In the storyII: Father MauriceOpen this moment free

See Father Maurice in II: Father Maurice Book page

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With Germain (family): Father Maurice is Germain's father-in-law and employer, treating him like a son while managing his farm and urging him to remarry. With Catherine (family): Catherine is Father Maurice's daughter, whose death left both men grieving and bound by family ties. With Marie (social): Father Maurice knows Marie as a respectable young woman from the village, eventually approving her marriage to Germain.

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The fuller portrait of Father Maurice sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Father Maurice in II: Father Maurice

Character Web

8 connections

A slice of how Father Maurice sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Family
Social

Character groups

Germain's immediate circle
Protagonist
Secondary village and symbolic figures
Village matchmakers and children

+3 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the epigraph’s grim prophecy—"It is Death who calls for thee"…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

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Relationships

Germain
family · positive
Father Maurice is Germain's father-in-law and employer, treating him like a son while… How this plays out →
Catherine
family · positive
Marie
social · positive
Mother Guillette
social · positive
Petit-Pierre
family · positive
Germain
family · positive
Father Maurice is Germain's father-in-law and employer, treating him like a son while… How this plays out →
Germain
family · positive
Father Maurice is Germain's father-in-law and employer, treating him like a son while… How this plays out →
Catherine
family · positive
Marie
social · positive
Petit-Pierre
family · positive
Mother Guillette
social · positive

Germain
Father Maurice is Germain's father-in-law and employer, treating him like a son while managing his farm and urging him to remarry.
Catherine
Catherine is Father Maurice's daughter, whose death left both men grieving and bound by family ties.
Marie
Father Maurice knows Marie as a respectable young woman from the village, eventually approving her marriage to Germain.
Mother Guillette
Father Maurice and Mother Guillette are fellow villagers who interact as neighbors in the rural community.
Petit-Pierre
Father Maurice is Petit-Pierre's grandfather, showing affection and concern for the boy's future.
Germain
Father Maurice is Germain's father-in-law and employer, treating him like a son while managing his farm and urging him to remarry.
Germain
Father Maurice is Germain's father-in-law and employer, treating him like a son while managing his farm and urging him to remarry.
Catherine
Catherine is Father Maurice's daughter, whose death left both men grieving and bound by family ties.
Marie
Father Maurice knows Marie as a respectable young woman from the village, eventually approving her marriage to Germain.
Petit-Pierre
Father Maurice is Petit-Pierre's grandfather, showing affection and concern for the boy's future.
Mother Guillette
Father Maurice and Mother Guillette are fellow villagers who interact as neighbors in the rural community.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Father Maurice in II: Father Maurice

In the story

Father Maurice appears across 8 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

II: Father Maurice
Father Maurice initiates the conversation about Germain's remarriage, emphasizing duty to the children and the household.
III: Germain, the Skilled Husbandman
Father Maurice is the pragmatic patriarch who arranges the marriage for Germain, focusing on financial stability and family harmony.
IV: Mother Guillette
Discusses Germain's remarriage plans with Mother Guillette and agrees to let Germain take Marie to Ormeaux.
XI: The Belle of the Village
Mentioned as sending Germain with a present of game and instructions.
XII: The Master
Mentioned as Germain's father-in-law who intends to buy oxen from Leonard.
The Return to the Farm
Listens gravely to Germain's account and accepts that the marriage plan with the widow has failed.
XV: Mother Maurice
Mentioned as the one whose consent Mother Maurice seeks; he seems to suspect nothing during the week.
I: A Country Wedding
Spokesman for the wedding, he gives invitations and fastens the laurel branch as the 'writ'.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Father Maurice unlock in the free preview.

See Father Maurice in II: Father Maurice