# Mlle. Cormon — The Jealousies of a Country Town character guide

> Mlle. Cormon in The Jealousies of a Country Town by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Mlle, Cormon, Mlle. d'Esgrignon, Mlle. de Nouastre, Rose Marie Victoire Cormon, Rose Cormon, Rose, Poor Rose

**First appearance:** 0000-story-i-the-old-maid

## Snapshot

Alençon's wealthiest spinster, courted by every fortune-hunter in town, must choose between a polished old nobleman and a coarse republican banker.

## Who they are

Rose Cormon is the richest unmarried woman in Alençon, and her hand in marriage is the town's most contested prize. Her vanity, her piety, and her fear of dying unwed pull her between the Chevalier de Valois's aristocratic graces and du Bousquier's brute financial weight. Her choice will decide which faction — the fading nobility or the rising bourgeoisie — inherits the town's social power.

## Relationships

### [Chevalier de Valois](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/chevalier_de_valois)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois is a persistent suitor to Mlle. Cormon, though his advances are more about social standing than genuine affection.

### [Du Bousquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/du_bousquier)

_romantic_

Du Bousquier is a calculating suitor to Mlle. Cormon, motivated by her fortune and social position.

### [Athanase Granson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/athanase_granson)

_romantic_

Athanase Granson is hopelessly and secretly in love with Mlle. Cormon, but his feelings are unrequited.

### [Mme. Granson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mme_granson)

_social_

Mlle. Cormon and Mme. Granson are acquaintances who interact primarily through local social circles and charitable works.

### [M. de Troisville](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/m_de_troisville)

_social_

M. de Troisville is a polite and distant suitor to Mlle. Cormon, representing a respectable but unexciting match.

### [Mlle. Armande](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mlle_armande)

_social_

Mlle. Armande and Mlle. Cormon are acquaintances who move in the same provincial high society.

### [Suzanne](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/suzanne)

_professional_

Mlle. Cormon employs Suzanne as a servant, but their relationship is strained by suspicion and jealousy.

### [Chevalier de Valois](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/chevalier_de_valois)

_romantic_

The Chevalier de Valois is a persistent suitor to Mlle. Cormon, though his advances are more about social standing than genuine affection.

### [Mme. Granson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mme_granson)

_social_

Mlle. Cormon and Mme. Granson are acquaintances who interact primarily through local social circles and charitable works.

### [Du Bousquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/du_bousquier)

_romantic_

Du Bousquier is a calculating suitor to Mlle. Cormon, motivated by her fortune and social position.

### [Du Bousquier](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/du_bousquier)

_romantic_

Du Bousquier is a calculating suitor to Mlle. Cormon, motivated by her fortune and social position.

### [Mlle. Armande](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mlle_armande)

_social_

Mlle. Armande and Mlle. Cormon are acquaintances who move in the same provincial high society.

## In the story

### [The Old Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/chapters/story-i-the-old-maid)

The wealthy heiress at the center of the marriage rivalry, courted by both the Chevalier de Valois and Du Bousquier.

### [The Old Maid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/chapters/the-old-maid)

Referred to as Rose and later Mme. du Bousquier, she is the unhappy wife of du Bousquier. She regrets her marriage, having loved the Chevalier de Valois, and suffers from her husband's despotism and the gossip of the town.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters/mlle_cormon
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_jealousies_of_a_country_town_se/characters