The Hard Life

This month marks the 180th anniversary of publication of "Le Père Goriot". It's Honoré de Balzac's masterpiece, depicting the Parisian society during the Bourbon Restoration. The author is far from being romantic in his approach, as readers will sense that life then is like a heap of horse manure.

Balzac would inspire a generation of authors believing in the virtues of realism. This wasn't a case of trending.

Nobody likes you

In able to appreciate Balzac's effort behind "Le Père Goriot", one must know the history of France - and the rest of Europe - during the nineteenth century. The French Revolution did turned the continent upside down, but no one foresaw the rise of Napoleon Bonaparte. The native of Corsica had ambition. The French society was in a chaotic state after the execution of Louis XVI. Napoleon installed order by force, and then set his sights on the other kingdoms. He carefully chose his battles.

Prior to his defeat in Waterloo, Napoleon nearly ruled the continent. Some would point out that there were hardly any border back then, which was noted in the Treaty of Fontainebleau. Members of the nobility wanted to bring back the old days, but the effects of the French Revolution were irreversible.

The characters in "Le Père Goriot" were morally ambiguous. Eugène de Rastignac, for instance, was a naive law student. Many saw a young man who was noble and true, but one character, known in the neighborhood for being an agitator, thought he was a social climber. Balzac based his story from what he saw in the streets, where there was hardly any hope.

Life or something like it

“He had seen society in its three great phases - obedience, struggle, and revolt; the family, the world, and Vautrin, and he hesitated in his choice. Obedience was dull, revolt impossible, struggle hazardous.”

Balzac was a prolific writer, but it didn't make him prosperous. In fact, he was hounded by creditors. The native of Tours didn't grow up in a close-knit household either, which influenced his attitude towards other people. The output of his works might be less if he had a pleasant existence. Trouble motivated him.

The best thing to be said about the novel was how the author described his characters. Readers got to know them too well. They were repulsed, but they also felt something else. Pity? Fascination? Misery? It was hard to figure out, as the Parisians once lived in a toxic environment.