Mi-Jean Character Analysis

Gros Jean’s younger brother and Ti-Jean’s older brother. Mi-Jean is an intellectual. He always has his head buried in a book, and because of this isn’t very good at fishing, or doing any other practical task. After Gros Jean loses the challenge to the Devil, it is Mi-Jean’s turn to go forth and see if he can make the Devil angry before the Devil makes him angry. Like Gros Jean, Mi-Jean insults Frog, whom he meets on his way to find the Devil. When Mi-Jean finds the Devil, disguised as the Planter, the Planter tasks him with chasing after and tying up and old goat, which Mi-Jean does successfully. Knowing that the Planter is the Devil in disguise, Mi-Jean resolves not to speak with him—this way, the Planter will never know if Mi-Jean is angry. But when the Planter implies that man is no more intelligent than animals—meaning that Mi-Jean’s intellect may be no greater than the goat he is trying to capture—Mi-Jean loses his cool. He enters into a heated debate with the Planter about man’s superiority over animals, and, losing his temper, he also loses the challenge. Like Gros Jean, Mi-Jean’s ego is ultimately his downfall.