Chocolat

Vianne prepares chocolate, comparing this process to sorcery. Her mother saw food as a trivial necessity only, but Vianne compares it to her use of tarot to direct their travels: She associates different recipes with places and cultures, seeing magic in this. Her mother taught her to read and charm people; when Vianne gifts people their favorite chocolates, she uses the same skill, but she gives without gain. She thinks of the spiritual and sensory significance of chocolate in South America before Western, Christian incursion. She describes herself as “scrying” using the chocolate. She has a vision of an old man in a bed and fire, wondering if this is Reynaud’s secret.

Reynaud tells his père how disturbing he finds Vianne. The shop’s perfumed décor reminded him of a boudoir, and he tried not to look, but he describes both the confectionary and Vianne’s appearance in detail. He sees her as an enemy spreading discord. He remembers how he and his père worked hard to expel an itinerant houseboat community, preaching to convince the villagers to ostracize them and eventually convincing Narcisse, who wanted to employ them seasonally on his farm. He describes his prejudiced view of them and his fear that Vianne’s influence may allow their return.