Eugenie Grandet (Illustrated Edition)

Author: (French) Balzac
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2000-05-01
Features: The story of "Eugenie Grandet" unfolds within the domestic daily life of a family, without sensational events or any trace of legend. As the author himself said, it is a "banal tragedy without poison, without daggers, without blood," yet its severity is no less than that of classical tragedy. Eugenie is almost a saintly figure impossible to find in reality. She embodies almost all the virtues of a woman, such as diligence, loyalty, tranquility, and devotion. She is generous—helping her uncle, the father of Charles, who had deceived her into his only true love, to repay a huge debt, and donating substantial amounts of money to the church, schools, and public construction. She is brave—driven by the power of love, she once defied her father's will, secretly and even openly giving food and supplies to Charles. In the end, she no longer remains ignorant; she perceives the true nature of the world. She makes an extraordinary and courageous act. Grandet is shrewd and reserved, speaking little and moving even less. He is ruthless, manipulating others at will. In Saumur, everyone has been skillfully grasped by his steel-like claws. No one who sees him does not feel both admiration and fear.