# Rosine Matou — Villette character guide

> Rosine Matou in Villette by Charlotte Brontë.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Rosine, Poor Rosine

**First appearance:** 0007-viii-madame-beck

## Who they are

The portress at Madame Beck's pensionnat, a gossipy and flirtatious woman.

## Relationships

### [Madame Beck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/characters/madame_beck)

_professional_

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

### [Madame Beck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/characters/madame_beck)

_professional_

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

## In the story

### [Madame Beck](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/viii-madame-beck)

Portress who takes over the duty of dressing Madame Beck after Lucy's initial attempt.

### [XI: The Potresse’s Cabinet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/xi-the-potresse-s-cabinet)

Portress whose cabinet Dr. John visits; described as pretty, young, and mercenary; Lucy is bewildered by her influence over Dr. John.

### [XII: The Casket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/xii-the-casket)

Portress who admits Dr. John and later helps him evade Madame Beck by interposing the door.

### [A Sneeze Out of Season](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/xiii-a-sneeze-out-of-season)

Pert domestic; questions Dr. John about the dropped casket; shows no fear or shyness; accepts a gold piece from him.

### [Reaction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/xxi-reaction)

Opens the door for Lucy and Dr. John upon their arrival at the pensionnat.

### [Vashti](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/xxiii-vashti)

Bursts in with a lamp to announce Dr. Bretton's arrival; later bribed by Lucy to help her dress.

### [XXVIII: The Watchguard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/xxviii-the-watchguard)

The portress who repeatedly fears M. Paul's anger and shirks the duty of delivering a message, passing it to Lucy.

### [XXX: M. Paul](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/chapters/xxx-m-paul)

Delivers Dr. John's message saucily in M. Paul's presence, earning his disapproval for her forwardness.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/characters/rosine_matou
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/villette_se/characters