Madame Aurélie Character Analysis in The Ladies’ Paradise

Madame Aurélie is the buyer in the ladieswear department at the Ladies’ Paradise. She is stout and majestic, with an aging face that looks like an ancient mask. When Denise first arrives at the Ladies’ Paradise, Madame Aurélie is severe with her. She is part of the “Lhomme dynasty,” the succession people from her family who have been powerful at the Ladies’ Paradise. Despite her authority, however, her home life is lacking. Her husband Lhomme and her son Albert have little to no relationship with each other and spend time pursuing their own interests. The Lhommes buy Baudu’s country house, and Madame Aurélie spends most of her free time there in the company of other women. Madame Aurélie uses her prestige to save her son from being fired for his countless mistakes, but when he is caught aiding and abetting thefts at the Ladies’ Paradise, he is finally fired. Madame Aurélie privately recognizes this as a consequence of the Lhommes’ bad home life. In her fear that the “Lhomme dynasty” is crumbling, Madame Aurélie becomes affectionate towards Denise whom she realizes has sway over Mouret.

Madame Aurélie Character Timeline in The Ladies’ Paradise

The timeline below shows where the character Madame Aurélie appears in The Ladies’ Paradise. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...chimes in that they are hiring at the Ladies’ Paradise and advises Denise to visit Madame Aurélie , the Paradise’s buyer, in the morning. Baudu exclaims against it, but Denise feels a... (full context)

...go to the cash desk to see Albert Lhomme, the son of the ladieswear buyer Madame Aurélie . (full context)

...who recognizes her as the “tart” he saw earlier in the street, and asks where Madame Aurélie is. Hutin gallantly leads Denise up the stairs to the ladieswear department. Denise is moved... (full context)

In the ladieswear department, Denise goes up to one of the salesgirls and asks for Madame Aurélie . The salesgirl asks the other salesgirls, and they all tell Denise she’ll have to... (full context)

Women, Exploitation, and Power Theme Icon

Suddenly, Madame Aurélie , a majestic woman in a black dress, appears. She rebukes Madame Frédéric, another saleswoman,... (full context)

Mouret and Bourdoncle appear and talk to Madame Aurélie about her son Albert’s mistake. Mouret, surprised to see Denise, asks Madame Aurélie what she’s... (full context)

...the dead Madame Hédouin in his eyes and feels a complicated emotion akin to fear. Madame Aurélie says she will contact Denise, knowing privately she will hire her just to please Mouret.... (full context)

Madame Aurélie pulls Denise to a mirror and tweaks at her appearance. She comments that Denise’s hair—ankle-length... (full context)

At 11 o’clock, a few customers appear. Madame Aurélie greets one of the ladies and calls for her salesgirls. Denise and Clara jump forward.... (full context)

...customer leave the ladieswear department without buying anything. He exchanges a few urgent words with Madame Aurélie , telling her to make use of Denise if the store gets busy. Mouret goes... (full context)

...Marty asks to see Denise’s selection of coats, Denise does not know where to look. Madame Aurélie sees that Denise is neglecting the ladies and sends Marguerite for coats. Marguerite convinces Madame... (full context)

...to spin around in the coat. Madame Marty voices her complaints about the coat, and Madame Aurélie says that Denise’s bad figure makes the coat look bad. Madame Desforges adds that the... (full context)

Bourdoncle tells Madame Aurélie to make sure that Denise looks better tomorrow. Holding back her tears, Denise goes back... (full context)

The next morning, Madame Aurélie sends Denise to Mouret’s office. When Denise walks in, Mouret feels a mixture of anger... (full context)

...keeps her going. Clara and Marguerite call her names and play mean tricks on her. Madame Aurélie disdains her, upset that Denise does not suck up to her authority. While Mouret ignores... (full context)

...rumored to have had a baby out of wedlock. The girls make up stories about Madame Aurélie ’s affairs with submissive young men. At the end of every day, there is a... (full context)

...boots. Denise’s friendship with Pauline exacerbates the ongoing rivalry between the ladieswear and lingerie departments. Madame Aurélie remains neutral until her son Albert is caught kissing a girl from the lingerie department... (full context)

Madame Aurélie resents Denise for fraternizing with Pauline. To show her displeasure, she invites all the ladieswear... (full context)

...group). Denise and Pauline hope that the day is sunny for them and rainy for Madame Aurélie and the other girls. (full context)

...Robineau will be back after lunch. Denise goes back up to the ladieswear department, where Madame Aurélie rebukes her for disappearing. If she doesn’t find Robineau today, all will be lost. (full context)

Denise runs upstairs to the ladieswear department. Later in the afternoon, when Madame Aurélie nods off, she goes back downstairs to look for Robineau. There, Jean accosts her and... (full context)

Without consulting Mouret, Bourdoncle goes up to the ladieswear department. He confers with Madame Aurélie , who then turns around and tells Denise to go and collect her wages. When... (full context)

...in Denise’s place and that Denise might lose her job if she refuses. They hear Madame Aurélie coming. Denise dries her eyes and goes downstairs with Madame Aurélie. (full context)

When Denise approaches on Madame Aurélie ’s arm, the ladieswear department salesgirls flock around her, asking how her ankle is. Over... (full context)

...department that year—says she doesn’t care, and that she will retire when her father dies. Madame Aurélie snaps at Clara and she returns to counting silks. Then, Mignot comes up to Clara... (full context)

Mignot then goes to Lhomme and borrows another 10 francs. Madame Aurélie yells at everyone to get back to work and rebukes her husband for being too... (full context)

Denise and Madame Aurélie go to the pattern room to cross-check their two lists of stock. Madame Aurélie leaves... (full context)

Under the pretext of inspecting inventory, Mouret comes by to look for Denise. Madame Aurélie takes him to the pattern room so he can look over their lists. Outside, the... (full context)

...Bouthemont. By six o’clock, the stock counting is finished and all the departments clean up. Madame Aurélie announces that the store earned 10 million more than it did last year. Denise then... (full context)

...split in two, and Denise is promoted to position of buyer for the children’s section. Madame Aurélie fears that she will eventually lose her job to Denise. The Lhommes’ power has fallen,... (full context)

...Clara has disappeared—some saying to become a sex worker—and Marguerite has put in her notice. Madame Aurélie fears losing her job, knowing that Albert’s extravagance and their lack of a family life... (full context)