Eugenie Grandet Old Man Goro (World Literature Library)

Author: Balzac (France)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-07-01
Features: Through the family conflicts among characters such as the couple Grasset, father and daughter, uncle and nephew in Eugénie Grandet, the work profoundly reveals the monetary relationships within bourgeois families. The author portrays the characters through a series of typical details, successfully shaping the iconic figure of Grasset. He is greedy, cunning, and miserly, with money as his god. His hobby is to observe gold alone, and even on his deathbed, he forgets to instruct his daughter to settle accounts on the other side. Despite his immense wealth, he personally distributes every loaf of bread for his meals and every candle he uses daily, ensuring not a single extra piece. His miserliness grows increasingly inflated, consuming his entire being. Grasset is depicted with great vividness, making him one of the most famous iconic figures in the history of world literature. The Father of High features two main threads: the story of the father and his two daughters, and the "struggle" of Rastignac. There are also several "interludes" in the work, such as the arrest of the fugitive Vautrin. The entire novel weaves together the main threads, subplots, and interludes, creating mutual resonance. With numerous characters and complex plots, the author skillfully arranges them in a well-structured and orderly manner, with clear layers.