Madame Marty Character Analysis in The Ladies’ Paradise

Madame Marty is one of Madame Desforges’s friends and is the first of the aristocratic ladies to start shopping at the Ladies’ Paradise. Throughout the novel, she and her daughter Valentine show themselves to be utterly incapable of resisting the appeals of the Ladies’ Paradise. She goes into fevers of excessive spending, making fewer and fewer excuses as the story goes on. Her spending makes Monsieur Marty go broke and drives him into a fit of mania. Despite this, Madame Marty goes to live with an uncle and continues to shop, presumably spending the uncle’s money.

Madame Marty Character Timeline in The Ladies’ Paradise

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

Before Mouret can answer, the door opens and another guest— Madame Marty —enters. Madame Marty apologizes for bringing in her red bag and says that it contains... (full context)

...Madame Guibal complains that fans like these always break. Unable to contain herself any longer, Madame Marty opens her red bag. With “the modesty of a woman undressing,” she shows the ladies... (full context)

Women, Exploitation, and Power Theme Icon

The ladies unwrap Madame Marty ’s lace purchases, becoming enraptured by them. They keep Mouret ensconced among them, as they... (full context)

...sends Lienard to the cash-desk with the first wool she looked at. Madame Desforges notices Madame Marty , and the two rave about the “oriental hall.” Madame Marty is looking for material... (full context)

In the silk department, Madame Desforges and Madame Marty find Madame Bourdelais, another of Madame Desforges’ friends. Madame Bourdelais raves about the “oriental hall,”... (full context)

Back in the silk department, Madame Desforges and Madame Marty can’t find an available assistant. The department is filled with ladies poring over the Paris-Paradise.... (full context)

Madame Guibal spots Madame Desforges and Madame Marty examining the Paris-Paradise. They chat about the great crowd, and then Madame Guibal wanders off.... (full context)

Hutin leads Madame Desforges and Madame Marty through the “commercial battle” in which salesmen are holding the “army of women” at their... (full context)

...ladies continue to chat. Finally, Madame de Boves and Blanche break off, planning to meet Madame Marty and Madame Desforges later in the “oriental hall.” The latter two continue towards the ladieswear... (full context)

Catching sight of Denise, Hutin brings Madame Desforges and Madame Marty to her. He takes vindictive pleasure in burdening the new girl with difficult customers. Denise... (full context)

Just then, Mouret comes into the ladieswear department with Vallagnosc. Madame Desforges and Madame Marty congratulate Mouret on his sale. Then they look at Denise, who is being made to... (full context)

...she tells Denise it will get better with time. Madame Aurélie puts the coat on Madame Marty , and everyone exclaims at its beauty. Mouret leaves, and Vallagnosc joins Blanche. The ladies... (full context)

Outside, Madame de Boves and Blanche run into Madame Marty and Valentine. Madame Marty says she is only going in for a piece of braid.... (full context)

...scarves. The salesman at the table says that these scarves are a rare bargain, and Madame Marty , convinced, buys two of them. (full context)

As Madame Marty again hurries off to find her braid, she is seduced by a display of gloves... (full context)

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

Suddenly, Madame Marty appears. Behind her, a salesman drags a chair piled with her purchases. Madame Marty greets... (full context)

...big it is. However, she is happy that Denise has to stand behind them, waiting. Madame Marty worries what her husband will say but keeps shopping. At one point, her chair can’t... (full context)

Seeing Madame Marty considering a table, Madame Guibal tells her that she can always return it. With this... (full context)

...Madame Guibal while Madame de Boves departs, first getting a red balloon. At five o’clock, Madame Marty is still shopping, unable to tear herself away. When she finally leaves, she feels unhinged... (full context)

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

...The ladies are swept into the store along with the crowd. They hope to find Madame Marty , who recently went to live with an uncle after Monsieur Marty became tyrannical in... (full context)

Madame Desforges rejoins Madame Guibal, who has met up with Madame Marty and Valentine. They have been in the store two hours and have purchased heavily from... (full context)

...through the buffet room where assistants are weaning a crowd of customers off the sweets. Madame Marty purchases heavily from the perfume department and then the ladies go to the Japanese display,... (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... (full context)