Madame Beck

Lucy Snowe

Lucy works as a teacher under Madame Beck, who is a shrewd and watchful employer.

Ginevra Fanshawe

Ginevra is a student at Madame Beck's school, and Madame Beck tolerates her with cool pragmatism.

Alfred de Hamal

He is a foppish dandy and a frequent visitor to Madame Beck's school, tolerated for his social standing.

John Graham Bretton

He is a family friend and doctor to Madame Beck's household, maintaining a polite but distant relationship.

Rosine Matou

Rosine is the portress at the school, serving under Madame Beck's strict authority.

Lucy Snowe

Lucy works as a teacher under Madame Beck, who is a shrewd and watchful employer.

Rosine Matou

Rosine is the portress at the school, serving under Madame Beck's strict authority.

Lucy Snowe

Lucy works as a teacher under Madame Beck, who is a shrewd and watchful employer.

Ginevra Fanshawe

Ginevra is a student at Madame Beck's school, and Madame Beck tolerates her with cool pragmatism.

John Graham Bretton

He is a family friend and doctor to Madame Beck's household, maintaining a polite but distant relationship.

Ginevra Fanshawe

Ginevra is a student at Madame Beck's school, and Madame Beck tolerates her with cool pragmatism.

John Graham Bretton

He is a family friend and doctor to Madame Beck's household, maintaining a polite but distant relationship.

Villette

Interviews Lucy and hires her as a governess after consulting M. Paul.

Madame Beck

Directress of the pensionnat; described as a capable, watchful, and passionless woman who rules through espionage and rational benevolence.

IX: Isidore

Madame Beck is noted for her policy of maintaining popularity with pupils at the expense of teacher support, and for allowing Ginevra considerable freedom.

X: Dr. John

Shows a stoic, unaffectionate parenting style; uses surveillance to manage her children; colludes with Dr. John in treating Désirée's feigned illness; maintains a facade of concern.

XI: The Potresse’s Cabinet

Directress who risks her school's reputation by employing Dr. John; shows signs of romantic interest and disappointment, plucking a white hair and sighing deeply after he leaves.

XII: The Casket

Surveys the garden surreptitiously, later feigns ignorance and treats Lucy with exaggerated kindness, arousing suspicion.

A Sneeze Out of Season

Suspicious and manipulative; arranges for Dr. John to visit while she is absent; eavesdrops on Lucy and Dr. John but is exposed by a sneeze.

XIV: The Fête

Madame Beck is mentioned for her pragmatic management of the school and her knowledge of the teachers' characters.

XV: The Long Vacation

School directress; leaves for the seaside with her children at the start of the vacation.

The Cleopatra

Directress of the pensionnat; visits La Terrasse, appearing charming and complimentary, but reveals a stern demeanor when leaving.

XX: The Concert

Mentioned as the former schoolmistress of two pupils observed at the concert.

Reaction

Receives Lucy with well-acted cordiality upon her return, then dismisses her quickly.

The Letter

Present in the sitting-room when Lucy bursts in; she calmly brings a lamp to the garret and investigates.

Vashti

Appears briefly in the dark carré; mistaken for the nun.

A Burial

Approves of Lucy's acquaintances; secretly examines Lucy's letters from Dr. John but returns them; comments on English character.

XXVIII: The Watchguard

Mentioned as the school's head who avoids M. Paul's classroom and directs Rosine to give the message to Lucy.

XXX: M. Paul

Mentioned as the employer of Madame Panache and the overseer of the school where Lucy teaches; her presence is a backdrop to the chapter's events.

XXXI: The Dryad

Hosts a Sunday dinner party for friends in the garden; Lucy suspects she is the one who covered her with shawls out of practical concern.

M. Paul Keeps His Promise

Intercepts M. Paul at the school door and dismisses him after his frustrated search for Lucy.

Malevola

Madame Beck sends Lucy on an errand to deliver fruit to Madame Walravens and later discusses M. Paul's romantic and charitable nature.

XXXV: Fraternity

Madame Beck advises Lucy to forget M. Paul, but her words have the opposite effect.

Cloud

Manipulates Lucy and deliberately prevents her from seeing M. Paul; later seen at the midnight fête.

Old and New Acquaintance

Madame Beck is part of the trio that pressured M. Emanuel to leave, motivated by her own selfish interests and desire to prevent others from winning his affection.

The Happy Pair

Distressed by the elopement; receives the newlyweds' visit.

XLI: Faubourg Clotilde

Lucy returns to Madame Beck's door after her walk with M. Paul; the school is the setting for much of the chapter.

Finis

Prospered all the days of her life, mentioned in the final farewell.