Eugénie Honoré de Balzac Grandet Criticism
Eugénie Grandet, written by Honoré de Balzac in 1833, is a cornerstone of his vast literary undertaking, La Comédie humaine. This novel is celebrated for its vivid realism and intricate character studies, particularly of the eponymous Eugénie and her miserly father, Félix Grandet. The narrative unfolds in the provincial town of Saumur, where Grandet's obsession with wealth casts a shadow over his family, ultimately condemning Eugénie to a life of emotional barrenness. Balzac's adept storytelling captures the harsh realities of greed and its destructive consequences, set against the backdrop of Napoleonic France, a period marked by economic opportunism and the rise of the bourgeoisie, as noted by critics like Pierre-Georges Castex.
The novel's major themes revolve around the corrosive power of avarice and the fatal hold of a "fixed idea," as explored by André Maurois. Balzac’s portrayal of these themes illuminates the ways in which personal ideologies can devastate familial bonds, a notion resonant in the broader scope of La Comédie humaine. Critics such as Hippolyte Adolphe Taine have lauded Balzac's capacity to craft compelling characters that echo the complexity found in Shakespearean works, while George Saintsbury regards the novel as nearly perfect in its execution.
Although Eugénie Grandet has not always received the same level of critical attention as other seminal works like Le Père Goriot, it has been recognized for its concise structure and depth of characterization. Esteemed literary figures such as Richard Aldington and Martin Turnell have underscored its enduring appeal, while Alexander Fischler and others have engaged with its feminist dimensions, analyzing Eugénie's role and the novel's broader societal implications. Despite being an integral part of Balzac's comprehensive social commentary, Eugénie Grandet stands alone as a poignant exploration of human nature and ambition.
Contents
-
Essays
-
The Great Characters
(summary)
In the excerpt below, from a translation of an essay originally published in 1865, Taine examines the character Grandet, noting Balzac's skill in depicting depraved characters as fascinating studies. The critic also compares Balzac's skill with that of Shakespeare.
-
Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
In the following essay, the critic reviews the plot of Eugénie Grandet, providing running commentary throughout.
-
Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
In the following excerpt, the critic summarizes the plot of Eugénie Grandet in the course of recommending "the sweetest and saddest" of Balzac's idylls, highlighting the contrasts between characters and the depiction of French provincial life.
-
Life of Honoré de Balzac
(summary)
In the following excerpt from his biography of Balzac, Wedmore offers a short critical overview of Eugénie Grandet.
-
A preface to Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
Saintsbury is considered one of the world's foremost authorities on Balzac's work during the early twentieth century. In the following excerpt from his preface to the Everyman Edition (1907) of Balzac's novel, he discourses on Eugénie Grandet as a work that is 'very nearly perfect.'
-
The House of the Miser: Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
In the essay below, Lush analyzes the characterization and action of Eugénie Grandet.
-
Acts and Scenes: Eugénie Grandet, Settings, Costumes, and Groupings: Eugénie Grandet, and Dialogue: Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
In The Dramatic Construction of Balzac's Novels, Bowen seeks to reveal by examination of the novels themselves whether there is not something more than just a dramatic pattern running through them and also whether there is not a manner of building according to which the author, consciously or unconsciously, constructed them so as to give them the dramatic form that characterizes his method of composition. In the excerpt below from that work, the critic delineates the dramatic construction of Eugénie Grandet, providing commentary, as well, on settings, costumes, groupings, and dialogue.
-
Four Novels: Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
In the following excerpt, he cites Andre Gide's criticisms of Eugénie Grandet in his own short critique of that novel.
-
An introduction to Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
In the following essay, Girard provides a critical and historical overview of Eugénie Grandet, sketching the novel's geographical, social, and biographical background.
-
An introduction to Eugénie Grandet
(summary)
In the preface to the Heritage Press edition of Eugénie Grandet, Aldington offers a highly appreciative general essay on the work, which he deems "not only one of the very best of Balzac's vast output of fiction, but one of the few novels which so far have survived the changes of time and fashion."
-
Productive Years
(summary)
In the excerpt below, Festa-McCormick examines those elements that make Eugénie Grandet "one of the classics of world fiction," focusing especially upon Balzac's depiction of the miser Grandet. The critic concludes by exploring the mystery of the identity of the "Maria" to whom Balzac dedicated the novel.
-
Eugénie Grandet's Career as Heavenly Exile
(summary)
In the following essay, Fischler examines Balzac's depiction of Eugénie as an exile from the heavenly realm.
-
The Great Characters
(summary)
- Further Reading