Research Article

Father Love in Old Man Goriot and Social Class Conflict

Youyuan FuDepartment of Language, Belarusian State University, Minsk, Republic of Belarus*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

This paper aims to analyze the by discussing the role of Goriot, his fatherly love for his daughters and the contradiction between these feelings and the class structure of the French society at that time, and reveals how Balzac used the literary form to criticize the class solidification and the decline of morality in the 19th century French society. The article will also further explain the embodiment and profound influence of this theme in the work by quoting the views of relevant literary critics.

Keywords: Balzac; Old man Goriot; fatherly love; social class; literary criticism
Published: May 15, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2024.22806
Volume: CHR Vol.59
pp. 121-125
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