Lucien Voigt Character Analysis in A Little Life

Lucien Voigt is Jude’s boss at Rosen Pritchard and Klein, one of the city’s most important firms. He’s always impressed with Jude’s work, though he also urges Jude to take some time off when it’s clear that Jude is working too hard (or using work to distract himself from other aspects of his life). Jude accepts Lucien’s job offer after a particularly frightening health scare makes him realize that he’ll need to have a lot of money to afford good, dignified care as his condition worsens later in life. Jude tries to hide as much of his disability and personal struggles (and personal life, for that matter) from his colleagues as he can, but Lucien comes to Jude’s aid when a janitor stumbles upon Jude in the midst of an episode late at the office one night. Lucien is one of the few characters in the novel who lives to old age, but his longevity isn’t devoid of suffering: Lucien suffers a massive stroke that greatly impacts his physical and cognitive abilities, greatly diminishing his quality of life. Jude regularly visits Lucien in the years after Willem’s death.

Lucien Voigt Character Timeline in A Little Life

The timeline below shows where the character Lucien Voigt appears in A Little Life. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Pritchard and Klein, one of the city’s most important firms. He was contacted directly by Lucien Voigt, chair of the litigation department, who had been impressed with Jude’s work in securities... (full context)

Friendship and Human Connection Theme Icon

Jude remembers the event that made him accept Lucien’s offer: One Friday night, Jude returns to Lispenard Street feeling very weak and in pain,... (full context)

...Andy demands that Jude find a new apartment. And so, the next week, Jude accepts Lucien Voigt’s job offer. When he calls to tell Harold, Harold is critical of the decision.... (full context)

Jude finally gets a big case he’s been working on for months dismissed. Lucien urges Jude to go home and relax—he deserves it. Jude returns home a while later... (full context)

...clean. The place looks like “an advertisement for an enviable life.” Harold calls Jude’s boss, Lucien, and lies that Jude has been in a car accident and will be in the... (full context)

...pills, and he sleeps a lot. Willem calls every night. Jude’s friends visit him, and Lucien comes, too. He tells Harold how he admired Jude is at the firm, and Harold... (full context)

...bad episode late one night at the office; the night janitor calls management, who calls Lucien. Lucien arrives and tends to Jude as he writhes and vomits on the floor. He... (full context)

...to work, and deals with his loneliness. He wins a big court case, and though Lucien applauds him, Jude feels nothing but anxiety: with the case over, he no longer has... (full context)

...Jude leaves the office early and goes to the Upper East Side. First, he visits Lucien, who recently had a massive stroke. Lucien can still speak, but his memory is gone... (full context)

After Jude’s visit with Lucien, he walks to the Irvines’ house. At first, Jude avoided them. But on the one-year... (full context)