Question for French speakers

well marionette means "puppet" as in sock puppets= des marionettes chaussettes.
A puppet (as in figurative)= fantoche

Mr. Smithers is basically Mr. Burns' puppet.
M. Smithers est le fantoche de M. Burns, fondamentalement.

the other word is "pantin" but in this context, your best bet would be to just use "marionette"

 

I know "poupée" means doll; if that helps :|

 

M. (Monsieur) Burns est controler son fantoche.
Mr. (Mister) Burns is controlling his puppet.

But this is a figurative puppet (not a literal one).

 

"Pantin" would most likely be more accurate than "Fantoche" which is defined as "Person without will, who lets himself be controlled.", whereas "Pantin" is defined as "Human-shaped toy manipulated by strings."

As to how to describe someone controlling a puppet using the same example as ElPana, you would say "M. Burns contrôle son pantin."

Why not just use "marionette" though?

 

Marionette works the best for your context, why not just use that?

 

That makes no sense whatsoever...

"M. Burns contrôle* son fantoche" ?

 

Because it's not a literal puppet.

You're saying "Mr. Burns controls" vs. "Mr Burns is controlling"

A fantoche is someone who has no free will LIKE a puppet (like Smithers is).

 

No, I have no idea about the difference between a literal and figurative puppet in French, in all honesty. But there's no difference between 'he controls' and 'he is controlling' in French and most other European languages?

"M. (Monsieur) Burns est controler son fantoche." is meaningless.

 

I shouldn't have written this at 4 am when on 6 hours of sleep, my bad.

I think it should be "controlant" if you want to use "controlling" as an adjective, to describe Mr. Burns' character.

Anyway, I've always understood fantoche to be like a 'sycophant' shall we say who has no concept as free will. Hefiel is correct (French is like my 2nd language, while he's a native )

I don't see why marionette would not work in your sentence? That's the one that makes the most sense haha.