| Madame Victurnien | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Gender |
Female |
| Born |
1763 |
| Family |
Husband (unnamed) [deceased] |
| Job |
Widower |
| Portrayer |
Marcelle Barry (1925) |
Madame Victurnien is the widow of a former Bernadine Cistercian monk who lives in Montreuil-sur-Mer. It is she who confirms the rumors of Fantine's secret child and whose actions ultimately lead to Fantine's dismissal.
Novel[]
Madame Victurnien was born in 1763. In 1793, she married a monk-turned-revolutionary who had escaped the monastery to join the Jacobins. He soon proved harsh and controlling, and Madame Victurnien's character is shaped by these years of abuse even following his passing. Following the Bourbon Restoration, Madame Victurnien gains standing with the church, bequeathing the property she has to a religious community and ingratiating herself to the Bishop of Arras.
Madame Victurnien (2019 BBC Les Mis)
In 1819, Madame Victurnien is a judgmental crone described at the "guardian of everyone's virtue" (1.5.8). After hearing a rumor that Fantine might have a secret child, Madame Victurnien spends 35 francs retrieving the address and going out to Montfermeil to confirm these suspicions. On return, she announces to everyone that the child does indeed exist. With these rumors confirmed, the overseer of the women's workshop dismisses Fantine.
When Madame Victurnien later observes Fantine from the window of her home at the end of 1.5.9 and sees that Fantine has been humbled, she is pleased with herself.
Adaptations[]
Madame Victurnien (1971 Los Mis)
Victurnien's role is often combined in adaptations with other characters. In many, Fantine is revealed by a (usually jealous) coworker to a zealous or corrupt overseer and is instead fired in this way. In the 1964, 1971 adaptations, the overseer is called Madame Victurnien, and in the 1967, 1985, and 2000 adaptations the actress playing the forewoman is credited as playing Madame Victurnien despite never being named onscreen.
In the 1925 silent film adaptation, Victurnien is shown going directly to the overseer after her discovery and is present when Fantine is fired.
Madame Victurnien (1964 I Miserabili)
In the 2019 BBC adaptation, Victurnien is also present when Fantine is fired, reporting directly to Mayor Madeleine who also acts as the overseer in this version.