Thénardiers

Thénardiers are fictional characters created by Victor Hugo for his 1862 novel Les Misérables. They consist of a married couple, Thénardier and Madame Thénardier, who operate as innkeepers and petty criminals in Montfermeil, near Paris. They are depicted as cynical, opportunistic, and unscrupulous, using deceit and theft to profit from others. They have two daughters, Éponine and Azelma, and at one point take in Cosette, Fantine’s daughter, as a supposed ward.

In the early part of the story, Fantine entrusts Cosette to the Thénardiers, hoping they will care for her. Instead, the Thénardiers treat Cosette as a servant, subject her to hard labor and neglect, and repeatedly extort money from Fantine while misleading others about Cosette’s welfare. Jean Valjean eventually becomes involved and secures Cosette’s safety, removing her from the Thénardiers’ custody.

Throughout the Paris-years sections of the novel, the Thénardiers appear as resourceful but unscrupulous opportunists who continue to profit from others’ misfortune. Their schemes, greed, and disregard for morality serve as a counterpoint to themes of mercy and reform, illustrating the social vice that Hugo critiques.

In adaptations, the Thénardiers are often portrayed as comic or theatrical villains, with their dynamic as a cunning, money-driven couple providing both menace and dark humor. They remain a recognizable symbol of exploitation and moral corruption within poverty.