Père Goriot

by Honoré Balzac

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Père Goriot Questions and Answers

What are the most important themes of Pere Goriot, and what do they suggest about French society of the time?

What does Balzac try to convey in his novel Père Goriot?

What are the most notable aspects of the narration within Pere Goriot?

Why is Père Goriot a critique of early–nineteenth-century French society?

Connect the following quote to Pere Goriot being seen as an expression of Realism:  "All is true, so true that everyone can recognize the elements of the tragedy in his own household, in his own heart perhaps."

Is the passage below a key passage that exemplifies Balzac's intention in writing "Old Goriot" ("Pere Goriot") as a short story? I think Balzac's intentions with the work is in regard to the relationship shared by reality, which is things as they are, society, which construes reality, and literature, which represents reality. The section that begins 'but, then, Paris is in truth an ocean ...' seems a good example of this. PERE GORIOT "Stately Paris ignores the existence of these faces bleached by moral or physical suffering; but, then, Paris is in truth an ocean that no line can plumb. You may survey its surface and describe it; but no matter how numerous and painstaking the toilers in this sea, there will always be lonely and unexplored regions in its depths, caverns unknown, flowers and pearls and monsters of the deep overlooked or forgotten by the divers of literature. The Maison Vauquer is one of these curious monstrosities."

How does Old Goriot suggests that when a culture does not keep the ideals of liberty, fraternity and equality and instead glorifies things like material wealth and social power, human beings suffer, both individually and collectively?

Just wondering if there is an opinion on why Balzac's Pere Goriot is called Pere Goriot when the protagonist is actually Rastignac?

What are some similarities and differences in the advice Madame Beauseant and Monsieur Vautrin give Eugene on making it to the higher class in France?

How does Old Gariot suggests that, when a culture does not keep the ideals of liberty, fraternity, and equality in view, and instead glorifies things like material wealth and social power, human beings suffer both individually and collectively?

Highlighting the commonalities as well as the differences between Realism and Naturalism, compare and contrast Pere Goriot with Therese Raquin.

Where in contemporary American culture can you see the glorification of things like material wealth and social power leading to human suffering?