A Study of Jacques Collin as he appears in "Le Père Goriot," "Illusions Perdues," and "Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes," three novels by Honoré de Balzac

Abstract

The intention of this paper is to examine Jacques Collin in several lights. First, in Le Pere Goriot, where Collin makes his initial appearance, the symbolic figure of this great criminal will be studied. In Illusions Perdues and Splendeurs et Miseres des Courtisanes, the real character of Collin is revealed to a greater extent than in Le Pere Goriot. It is in these latter novels that one meets Jacques Collin in all his baseness. In the course of these three novels the entire gamut of Balzac's sentiments about Collin will be revealed -- from awestruck admiration of the great power wielded by Jacques Collin to a realistic lessening of these feelings to the point of frank revelation of his human weaknesses.