Antoine Macquart

Son of Macquart. He took after his father in drunkenness and brutish savagery. He was manipulated by his stepbrother Pierre into military service. He despised his stepbrother and correctly suspected him of swindling him out of part of his inheritance.
He learned the trade of basket making but drink meant he never made any money at this.
He married Joséphine and used to beat her when they had both been drinking. She used to work hard when sober and kept them both until she died.
They had three children, Lisa (see Lisa Quenu), Gervaise and Jean. Lisa went to Paris when she was young and Macquart lived off his other two children for as long as possible after his wife died.