Madame de Boves Character Analysis in The Ladies’ Paradise

Madame de Boves—or Countess de Boves—is one of Madame Desforges’s aristocratic friends. Throughout the novel, she patronizes the Ladies’ Paradise but claims not to desire anything enough to buy it. However, during the white sale at the Ladies’ Paradise, Madame de Boves is caught stuffing lace up her sleeve by Jouve. It comes to light that Madame de Boves has made a habit of robbing from the shop, finding theft perversely more titillating since it risks her important reputation.

Madame de Boves Character Timeline in The Ladies’ Paradise

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

...and 200 francs on the engraved mount. The ladies pass around the fan. Another guest, Madame de Boves , shows the fan to her daughter Blanche. Madame de Boves then asks Mouret if... (full context)

...them, Madame Marty hides the bag under her chair. The guests turn out to be Monsieur de Boves and Vallagnosc, a childhood classmate of Mouret’s. Mouret and Vallagnosc shake hands and go into... (full context)

...engaged to be married. Vallagnosc glances at Blanche and whispers that nothing is settled yet. Madame de Boves and Blanche are always hard up for money because Monsieur de Boves in always having... (full context)

...the time they get upstairs, Mouret has disappeared. In the lace department, they run into Madame de Boves and Blanche. The ladies remark on the “dazzling” spectacle. Madame de Boves is plunging her... (full context)

Women, Exploitation, and Power Theme Icon

The ladies continue to chat. Finally, Madame de Boves and Blanche break off, planning to meet Madame Marty and Madame Desforges later in the... (full context)

One day, Madame de Boves shops at Robineau’s. She examines a coat and remarks that the Paris-Paradise is stronger than... (full context)

Outside, Madame de Boves and Blanche run into Madame Marty and Valentine. Madame Marty says she is only going... (full context)

...a Swiss chalet. When pressed by Mignot, she buys a pair. Madame Marty wails to Madame de Boves that she is lost. They run into Madame Bourdelais who, not being a shopper, has... (full context)

While Madame de Boves and Blanche stay downstairs, Madame Bourdelais and Madame Marty take one of the elevators upstairs.... (full context)

Monsieur de Boves comes in with Vallagnosc. Madame Guibal pretends not to notice Monsieur de Boves. Mouret comes... (full context)

Meanwhile, Monsieur de Boves and Vallagnosc go to the lace department. Vallagnosc, feigning surprise, points out Madame de Boves,... (full context)

...Bourdelais goes to the buffet room again, and Madame Desforges plots to humiliate Denise somehow. Monsieur de Boves goes off with Madame Guibal while Madame de Boves departs, first getting a red balloon.... (full context)

Madame Marty and Madame de Boves come in, saying that they recognize the salesgirl in the hall from the Ladies’ Paradise.... (full context)

By three o’clock, the Rue du Dix-Decembre is packed. Madame de Boves and Madame Guibal, who are now friends since Madame de Boves decided she wanted her... (full context)

...all the white, the customers look like black spots on Alpine slopes. As soon as Madame de Boves enters the store, Jouve starts following her. The ladies stop to admire the bunches of... (full context)

...Madame Guibal go to the reading room where they find Vallagnosc. He informs them that Madame de Boves and Blanche are in the lace department and goes to fetch them. (full context)

The lace department—“a white chapel”—is very crowded. Madame de Boves , after walking around for a while with Blanche, commands Deloche to pile the finest... (full context)

Jouve—who has still been spying—whispers for Madame de Boves to follow him. Madame de Boves looks anguished but composes a haughty expression and follows... (full context)

Jouve and Bourdoncle go to a different room while the salesgirls search Madame de Boves . They find 14,000 francs worth of items stuffed in her clothes. She has been... (full context)

Meanwhile, Blanche finds Vallagnosc and tells him that Madame de Boves was caught stealing. Vallagnosc is shocked by this news and by the fact that Blanche... (full context)

Mouret watches his customers leave, knowing that he possesses them all—Madame Marty, Madame Guibal, Madame de Boves , Blanche, Vallagnosc, and even Madame Desforges. He listens to the sounds outside of his... (full context)