# Abbé Patouille — The Revolt of the Angels character guide

> Abbé Patouille in The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the Abbé Patouille, Meanwhile Abbé Patouille, Abbé, The Abbé Patouille, The Abbé

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

The d'Esparvieu family's plump, sighing priest, who tutors Maurice in catechism while quietly counting the Church's growing victories and its need for money.

## Who they are

Abbé Patouille serves as confessor and spiritual counselor to the d'Esparvieu household, exhorting the wounded Maurice to prayer against the Devil while cheerfully noting that public opinion has turned back toward the Church. His fat cheeks droop at Maurice's blasphemous talk of guardian angels, then plump up again at the thought of Christian schools multiplying and the Cross gaining the day — but money is always wanted. He embodies the comfortable, calculating piety against which the novel's angelic rebellion quietly measures itself.

## In the story

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/i)

A family friend and confessor who reproaches Maurice for his lukewarmness.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/iii)

Briefly considered by Sariette as a potential culprit due to his habit of dog-earing books.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/iv)

The abbé shares Sariette's suspicions about Freemasons and Jews, and later comments that Sariette's brain is failing.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/v)

Examines Delacroix's frescoes, criticizes the lack of guardian angels, and discusses Christian iconography with the group.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/vii)

An intimate of the household who makes himself scarce due to the surveillance.

### [The Angel's Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/x)

Mentioned by Maurice as someone to whom Arcade should not speak of his heresies.

### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xv)

Dismisses Maurice's account as a dream or hallucination, insisting that good angels cannot revolt and that Maurice's troubles stem from dissipation and Delacroix's paintings.

### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxxii)

Visits Maurice to offer counsel and exhort him to return to his family; is met with mockery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/abbe_patouille
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters