Relationships in Pere Goriot

Megan Nanovic Blog 4

While reading Pere Goriot it strikes me how superficial many of the relationships are in this story.  Marriage which ideally should be treated with respect is treated like a joke.  In the book, people that enjoy a wealthier lifestyle do not refrain from having affairs outside of their marriage, and this behavior is common among members of this high society which almost makes the deed worse.  Similarly in today's society people do not take marriage as seriously because people can more easily obtain a divorce which has caused both marriage rates and divorce rates to increase.  It is disheartening to see the act of marriage being treated with such disrespect even in a fictitious story.

Another relationship that is difficult to read about is Pere Goriot's relationship with both of his daughters.  It is clear from how he talks about them that he truly loves them, but they do not share this feeling.  His daughters merely appease him because he continues to do all he can to help them.  From my perspective, I can not imagine treating my parents this way because of how much they have done for me.  Knowing that these woman only reached their position due to their fathers sacrifices, I would hope that they would love him and be proud to have him as family, but this is clearly not the case.  Rastignac shares a similar relationship with Pere Goriot because Rastignac befriended him in the hopes that Goriot could help him gain favor with Madame de Nucingen.  Their friendship was formed out of selfishness on account of Rastignac.  While I do not approve of this relationship, I am glad that he does not reveal to Goriot that his daughters do not care for him.  His love for his daughters is all Goriot has, and it would be cruel to take that away from him.  He is an old man who only finds pleasure in his daughters' happiness and learning of their true feelings might break him, which he does not deserve.

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