# Germain — The Devil’s Pool character guide > Germain in The Devil’s Pool by George Sand. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Father Maurice, Maurice **First appearance:** 0004-ii-father-maurice ## Who they are A widowed farmer and devoted father who rides into the woods to find a wife and instead finds his conscience tested. ## Relationships ### [Marie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/marie) _romantic_ Germain, a widower, develops a deep romantic bond with the young Marie during their journey, culminating in marriage. ### [Father Maurice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/father_maurice) _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. ### [Petit-Pierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/petit_pierre) _family_ Germain is the devoted father of Petit-Pierre, caring for him deeply and taking him on the journey to find a new wife. ### [Mother Guillette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/mother_guillette) _social_ Mother Guillette is a neighbor and the mother of Marie, with whom Germain has a respectful acquaintance. ### [Catherine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/catherine) _family_ Catherine is Germain's deceased wife, remembered with love and grief, influencing his reluctance to remarry. ### [Bastien](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/bastien) _rivalry_ Bastien is a young man who competes with Germain for Marie's affections, creating romantic tension. ### [Jacques](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/jacques) _professional_ Jacques is a fellow farmer and acquaintance of Germain, interacting with him in the rural community. ### [Sylvain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/sylvain) _family_ Sylvain is Germain's young son, mentioned as part of his family but with fewer direct interactions. ### [The Old Gray](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/the_old_gray) _friendship_ Germain relies on his loyal old horse, The Old Gray, as a faithful work and travel companion. ### [Fourche](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/fourche) _rivalry_ Fourche is a wealthy but unpleasant suitor who competes with Germain for Marie's hand, representing a social obstacle. ### [Marie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/marie) _romantic_ Germain, a widower, develops a deep romantic bond with the young Marie during their journey, culminating in marriage. ### [Marie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/marie) _romantic_ Germain, a widower, develops a deep romantic bond with the young Marie during their journey, culminating in marriage. ## In the story ### [The Author to the Reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/the-author-to-the-reader) Introduced as the laborer whose story will be told. ### [The Devil’s Pool](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/the-devil-s-pool) Confesses his love to Marie at the Devil's Pool. ### [The Tillage of the Soil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/i-the-tillage-of-the-soil) The young father driving the team of oxen, described as active and energetic, working with his child. ### [II: Father Maurice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/ii-father-maurice) Germain is urged by his father-in-law to remarry, but he is hesitant and still grieving his late wife Catherine. ### [II: Father Maurice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/iii-germain-the-skilled-husbandman) Germain is the central figure, a skilled husbandman who is grieving his late wife and reluctantly agrees to an arranged marriage with the widow Guérin, though he is sad and uncertain. ### [III: Germain, the Skilled Husbandman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/iv-mother-guillette) Discusses Germain's remarriage plans with Mother Guillette and agrees to let Germain take Marie to Ormeaux. ### [IV: Mother Guillette](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/iv-mother-guillette) Agrees to take Marie on his horse to Ormeaux, despite his own sadness about his upcoming marriage journey. ### [V: Petit-Pierre](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/v-petit-pierre) Struggles with his desire to bring Petit-Pierre against his father-in-law's wishes; shows a soft, fatherly heart and is moved by Marie's kindness. ### [VI: On the Heath](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/vi-on-the-heath) Germain leads the journey, shows concern for Marie and Petit-Pierre, and becomes lost in the fog. ### [VII: Underneath the Big Oaks](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/vii-underneath-the-big-oaks) Germain is lost in the forest with Marie and Petit-Pierre. He expresses his grief over his late wife and begins to show admiration for Marie's resourcefulness and kindness. ### [VIII: The Evening Prayer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/viii-the-evening-prayer) Shares supper with Marie and Petit-Pierre, expresses gratitude and affection toward Marie, and is touched by the domestic scene. ### [IX: Despite the Cold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/ix-despite-the-cold) Tormented by his love for Marie, he struggles with jealousy and self-restraint throughout the night. ### [X: Beneath the Stars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/x-beneath-the-stars) Confesses his love to Marie but is rejected; struggles with his emotions and duty. ### [XI: The Belle of the Village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xi-the-belle-of-the-village) Arrives at the Widow Guérin's house, feels embarrassed and out of place among the other suitors, and remains reserved. ### [XI: The Belle of the Village](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xi-the-belle-of-the-village) Mentioned as sending Germain with a present of game and instructions. ### [XII: The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xii-the-master) Germain observes the widow's behavior, declines to dance, and clarifies his intentions to Father Leonard. He then searches for Marie and Petit-Pierre, growing increasingly anxious. ### [XII: The Master](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xii-the-master) Mentioned as Germain's father-in-law who intends to buy oxen from Leonard. ### [XIII: The Old Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xiii-the-old-woman) Rescues Marie from the farmer's advances, physically subdues the farmer, and reunites with Petit-Pierre and Marie. ### [The Return to the Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xiv-the-return-to-the-farm) Returns home with Marie and Petit-Pierre, explains his actions to Father Maurice, and secretly provides for Marie's family while avoiding her. ### [The Return to the Farm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xiv-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](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xv-mother-maurice) Confesses his love for Marie to Mother Maurice, expressing despair at her rejection. ### [XV: Mother Maurice](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xv-mother-maurice) Mentioned as the one whose consent Mother Maurice seeks; he seems to suspect nothing during the week. ### [XVI: Little Marie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/xvi-little-marie) Germain, encouraged by his mother-in-law, goes to speak with Little Marie about marriage, expressing his love and fear of rejection. ### [I: A Country Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/i-a-country-wedding) The groom, serious and tender, like young Jacob greeting Rebecca. ### [I: A Country Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/i-a-country-wedding) Spokesman for the wedding, he gives invitations and fastens the laurel branch as the 'writ'. ### [II: The Wedding Favors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/ii-the-wedding-favors) The bridegroom, leading the wedding party in the traditional siege. ### [III: The Wedding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/iii-the-wedding) The bridegroom, who participates in the wedding games and successfully chooses Marie as his bride. ### [IV: The Cabbage](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/chapters/iv-the-cabbage) Germain is married at the end of the chapter, described as 'proud and active' as he goes to hitch his oxen. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters/germain - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_devil_s_pool_se/characters