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After a difficult childhood marked by the death of her mother and subsequent abandonment by her father, Vianne enjoys a simple life in the French countryside with her husband, Antoine, and daughter, Sophie. In Carriveau, she lives a traditional lifestyle, taking care of her daughter, growing vegetables in the garden, and teaching at the local school. Unlike her younger sister, she has little interest in global news or politics, barely acknowledging the war until it is at her doorstep. Through much of the novel, Vianne’s characteristic response to painful or difficult information is to ignore it. In the early days of the German occupation, she avoids making major decisions, reassuring herself that Antoine will take care of everything when he returns. She keeps her head down, obeys the rules imposed by the Germans, and accepts Beck’s favors to maintain her quality of life. Though she resists Beck’s romantic advances, she nevertheless feels attracted to him, and others in Carriveau spread rumors that she is sleeping with the enemy. Though this gossip is false, it is nevertheless true that she has maintained a cozy relationship with a German soldier that occasionally borders on collaboration.
In the end, Vianne is a reluctant hero. She lacks her sister’s courage and her convictions, but her love for her family and desire to protect the children under her care nevertheless inspire her to take risks and persevere through profound hardships. While working with the Mother Superior of the local convent to hide Jewish children in the orphanage, Vianne reflects that she is still afraid but has learned to “go on” despite her fears. Where Isabelle is a bold fighter determined to leave her mark on history, Vianne represents a more quiet and ordinary form of heroism. Through her, the novel honors the various women whose contributions have not been recorded for posterity but were profound nonetheless.
