Although Madame Manec’s official occupation is serving as the housekeeper at Number 4 rue Vauborel, she fulfills many other crucial roles throughout the novel that render her a heroic figure. She is the first person whom Marie-Laure and her father meet when they arrive in Saint Malo, and the warm reception that she offers them perfectly encapsulates her character as a whole. Madame Manec’s primary concern is that the people in her life are taken care of and loved regardless of the circumstances they may be facing. She strives to comfort Marie-Laure, for example, by keeping her hunger at bay and satisfying her curiosities about the streets and beaches of Saint Malo. As a result of this unwavering impulse to serve, Marie-Laure quickly recognizes that Madame Manec is far more than a simple housekeeper. She is a cook, a nurse, a confidant, a mother figure, and a friend to many people in Saint Malo, especially considering the fact that she has worked in Etienne’s house since he was a boy.
All of these qualities make Madame Manec a strong force for good within her community and ultimately allow her to serve as an effective leader of the city’s resistance against the Nazis. At first, her acts of community service are a mere extension of the care she already provides to Etienne at home, such as delivering food to those who are most in need. As the toll of the war grows in Saint Malo, however, Madame Manec rallies other women in the city and insists that they have the power to support the war effort at home. She leads the women in misdirecting the German occupiers, and she eventually becomes involved in exchanging secret codes with information about the enemy. The energy and enthusiasm that Madame Manec displays in these endeavors highlights her resilience, a quality which inspires Marie-Laure to get involved in the war effort as well. Understanding the significance of Madame Manec’s work helps Marie-Laure believe that she, too, can become a hero.
Despite the youthful spirit that Madame Manec possesses, she becomes sick and dies in June 1942. This loss has a profound impact on Marie-Laure and Etienne, leaving their home exceptionally dark and quiet. Madame Manec’s legacy as a member of the French resistance, however, lives on through those she left behind. Despite Etienne’s initial refusal to get involved in such dangerous intelligence operations, he manages to overcome his fears and honors Madame Manec by using his radios to continue her work. This shift in his outlook has major implications throughout the remainder of the novel and would not have been possible without her influence. In her final years of life, Madame Manec showed both Etienne and Marie-Laure that anything is possible.