[Pypeassesty]

Thomas,
Many thanks for the kinds words. They are very much appreciated, I assure you. I'm so pleased you enjoyed my review!

You make an apt point about a lot of Balzac's female characters being strong. I do think it depends on the novel, however. For example, in Ursule Mirouet, which I finished recently (and hope to review within the next two days), the leading female character is extremely modest and self-effacing. In many respects, she is passive. At the same time, she is a product of her times. I suspect that a lot of feminists would be highly critical of Balzac for creating what they would perceive to be a somewhat "insipid" and "sentimental" character (from the introduction by Donald Adamson). In Eugenie Grandet, Balzac once again centers the novel around a passive young woman. This time the woman is entirely dependent on her avaricious, tyrannical father.

I'm delighted you brought up this issue, Thomas, as I believe I did make an observation about Balzac's women that was too much of a generalization. I hope we can discuss this in more depth on the Balzac thread I plan to start sometime over the weekend. Like most truly great authors, Balzac is a writer who depicts a wide variety both men and women in his works. Although, in Cousin Bette, the men tend to be weak-willed, in Eugenie Grandet, the father is incredibly domineering (in many ways, like my own father). Lost Illusions is centered around Lucien Chardon (aka de Rubempre), a man who is both weak and extraordinarily ambitious--two qualities that don't often go together. Then, in A Harlot High and Low, the sequel to Lost Illusions, Balzac transfers the focus to Vautrin, who has been referred to as a "homosexual Mephistopheles." Lucien reappears in the novel, but this time he falls under the spell of Vautrin and his "Satanic genius." Balzac's ability to depict such a vast array of characters is one reason he is such a favorite of mine. As I've said before, "black-and-white" characters don't interest me as I don't feel they are true to life. I believe there are few instances in which someone is "all good" or "all evil," and that's what Balzac generally demonstrates in his books, with a few exceptions. I felt that even Cousin Bette showed a trace of genuine feeling. Yes, she was psychopathic, but she was not completely coldhearted. Unfortunately, I don't remember enough about Eugene Grandet in Eugenie Grandet to say whether or not he had any good attributes. It's been at least 12 years since I've read it. But, overall, Balzac is an author who understands that most human beings are contradictory in nature, and that even the most villainous individuals are occasionally capable of showing compassion.

Thanks again, Thomas, for your input and your compliments. I look forward to your sharing more of your views as you read more Balzac!

Best wishes always,
Titania