Talk:Le Père Goriot

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[edit] Major themes

My main source for this new section was The Novel 100 by Daniel Burt, 2004, Checkmark Books. The author was a professor of literature at Wesleyan University. | Keithlaw 22:11, 23 October 2005 (UTC)

[edit] King Lear?

Isn't there a relationship between the novel and King Lear? Can a short discussion be added? --Malcohol 10:37, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

If you can cite a source for that connection, sure. I don't see the relationship myself. Lear had three daughters, Goriot two. Lear banished one of his daughters, leading to the central plot, whereas Goriot never banished either of his daughters. One of Lear's daughters dies at the end, whereas Goriot's both live. | Klaw ¡digame! 15:25, 21 February 2006 (UTC)

I haven't read King Lear myself, so it's not my just a random hypothesis of mine. The relationship is mentioned in the introduction to my old Pelican edition of "Old Goriot" (as it's called). With regard to the banished daughter, that could be Victorine Taillefer.--Malcohol 13:23, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like you have a good citation. I say add it, and make sure you cite that essay in your edition, either via endnotes or in a References section. | Klaw ¡digame! 20:49, 22 February 2006 (UTC)

I just had another glance at that introduction. In fact, the reference to King Lear is really just this passing remark: "... [Balzac] appears here to have deliberately chosen to show that a working-class Lear may exist, whose story is not less terrible or less affecting than Shakespeare's great king". For what it's worth, the book reference is: Old Goriot, Balzac, translated by Marion Ayton Crawford, Penguin Books, 1962. The introduction, by Crawford, is dated 1950. I'm not sure that such a minor comment would constitute a useful addition to the article, but if someone wants me to add it I will. BTW, I did a quick web search: "Goriot king lear" throws up several essays which explicitly consider the comparison. --Malcohol 12:26, 10 April 2006 (UTC)