# Jacques de Mortsauf — The Lily of the Valley character guide

> Jacques de Mortsauf in The Lily of the Valley by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Jacques

**First appearance:** 0001-the-lily-of-the-valley

## Snapshot

The sickly, high-strung son whose fragile health consumes his mother's days, he is both the family's hope and the source of its constant dread.

## Who they are

Jacques's delicate constitution binds Henriette to Clochegourde and to a life of ceaseless vigilance, leaving her little room for her own desires. His needs justify her refusals and deepen her martyrdom, while his father's harshness toward him sharpens the household's cruelty. Around this boy the family's love, fear, and guilt all converge.

## Relationships

### [Comte de Mortsauf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/comte_de_mortsauf)

_family_

Father and son, with the Comte being harsh and critical toward the sickly Jacques.

### [Madeleine de Mortsauf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/madeleine_de_mortsauf)

_family_

Brother and sister, sharing a bond of suffering under their father's tyranny and their mother's care.

### [Félix de Vandenesse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/felix_de_vandenesse)

_friendship_

Félix shows genuine care for the frail Jacques, offering him companionship and support.

### [Henriette de Mortsauf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/henriette_de_mortsauf)

_family_

Mother and son, with Henriette devotedly nursing Jacques through his chronic illness.

### [Charles de Vandenesse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/charles_de_vandenesse)

_friendship_

Charles, Félix's brother, is a kind companion to Jacques during his visits to the estate.

### [Duc de Lenoncourt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/duc_de_lenoncourt)

_family_

The Duc is Jacques's maternal grandfather, showing concern for the boy's fragile health.

### [Comte de Mortsauf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/comte_de_mortsauf)

_family_

Father and son, with the Comte being harsh and critical toward the sickly Jacques.

### [Félix de Vandenesse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/felix_de_vandenesse)

_friendship_

Félix shows genuine care for the frail Jacques, offering him companionship and support.

### [Félix de Vandenesse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/felix_de_vandenesse)

_friendship_

Félix shows genuine care for the frail Jacques, offering him companionship and support.

### [Henriette de Mortsauf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/henriette_de_mortsauf)

_family_

Mother and son, with Henriette devotedly nursing Jacques through his chronic illness.

### [Comte de Mortsauf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/comte_de_mortsauf)

_family_

Father and son, with the Comte being harsh and critical toward the sickly Jacques.

### [Henriette de Mortsauf](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/henriette_de_mortsauf)

_family_

Mother and son, with Henriette devotedly nursing Jacques through his chronic illness.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters/jacques_de_mortsauf
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_lily_of_the_valley_se/characters