Father Goriot

Historical Context and Significance

Published in 1835, Honoré de Balzac's novel «Father Goriot» is a key work in the series «La Comédie Humaine». This book offers a profound exploration of early 19th-century Parisian society, highlighting the social and moral issues of the time. Balzac masterfully depicts the lives of various social strata, from impoverished students to wealthy aristocrats, through the lens of Madame Vauquer's boarding house. The story of Father Goriot, who sacrifices everything for his ungrateful daughters, raises themes of parental love, selfishness, and ingratitude, making the novel relevant even today. The book's influence on culture is significant: it became a crucial part of literary realism, inspiring many writers to create works exploring the social and moral aspects of life. Balzac created complex, multifaceted characters that became archetypes in literature, and his detailed depiction of society and human relationships had a substantial impact on the development of the European novel.