Rougon branch
born Félicité Puech
Félicité Rougon
Bourgeoise, social climber
Pierre's sharp, energetic wife — and the real intelligence behind the Rougon ascent. It is Félicité who understands that in provincial France, reputation and timing matter more than courage or talent; who cultivates the right connections in the yellow drawing room; who engineers the story that reaches Paris after the coup. From a modest enough background herself (daughter of a small-time oil merchant), she has made the family's ambition entirely her own. More than any other character in the cycle she survives: she outlives almost everyone, witnesses the whole drama from Plassans across twenty years of Second Empire, and in Le Docteur Pascal she is still there — still scheming, still enjoying the triumphs of her children and grandchildren.
Femme de Pierre et véritable architecte de l'ascension Rougon. C'est elle qui comprend que dans la province française, la réputation et le moment comptent plus que le courage. Elle cultive les bonnes relations dans leur salon jaune et survit à presque tous les membres de la saga.
Small, dark, quick-eyed, with the restless energy of someone who is always scheming.
Small, dark, quick-eyed, with the restless energy of someone who is always scheming.
Family & Relationships
- Spouse Pierre Rougon
- Parent Eugène Rougon
- Parent Aristide Saccard
- Parent Dr Pascal Rougon
- Parent Sidonie Rougon
- Parent Marthe Rougon
"Meeting of Reactionaries in the Rougons' Yellow Drawing-Room" — Engraving from the Vizetelly English translation of La Fortune des Rougon (1886) — Public domain
Appears In
The Fortune of the Rougons
La Fortune des Rougon
major
His Excellency Eugène Rougon
Son Excellence Eugène Rougon
minor
Doctor Pascal
Le Docteur Pascal
major
Details
- Branch
- Rougon
- Generation
- II