Balzac classic

Author: Li Hui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-01-01
Features: Balzac's role in the development of French short stories is remarkable. In the early 19th century, French short stories were at a turning point in their development; before this, they were still in their infancy. Although historical figures like Marguerite de Navarre, Madame de La Fayette, Voltaire, Diderot, Montesquieu, and the Marquis de Sade had already proven themselves as masters of short stories, neither in terms of character portrayal nor in structure had short stories reached a stage of maturity. These writers could only be said to have written tales, not true short stories. Eugénie Grandet is one of Balzac's representative works. The outstanding achievement of this novel lies in its portrayal of a cunning, greedy, and miserly bourgeoisie. The novel depicts the criminal rise of the bourgeoisie, with its central character, Grandet, rising to prominence during the French Revolution. During the Restoration period, he controlled the market, drove up prices, and engaged in speculative investments, multiplying his wealth several times over. His nephew, Charles, made a fortune through slave trading, usury, tax evasion, and collusion with pirates. The rise of the bourgeoisie had long been overlooked by writers, but Balzac began to pay attention to this significant social phenomenon. His exposure carries profound social significance.
The Old Man's Tale
Before his death, the old man, Grandet, desperately longed to see his daughters, but his tears moved them not at all. This made him realize the cruelty and indifference of a money-driven society: money could buy everything, even his daughters. After his death, Rastignac tried to go back and forth between his two daughters to raise funds for his funeral, but in vain. They refused even to see him, citing the reason that the master and mistress had declined all guests, as they were overcome with grief over their father's death. In the end, only two "empty carriages with coats of arms" appeared in the funeral procession. With his sharp pen, Balzac exposed the base mentality, hypocritical facades, and utterly inhuman hearts of these two women in a most revealing manner.