Gobseck

Gobseck
1897 illustration from Gobseck (Mme de Restaud, Gobseck and Derville)
by Édouard Toudouze
AuthorHonoré de Balzac
LanguageFrench
SeriesLa Comédie humaine
Publication date
1830
Publication placeFrance
Preceded byBéatrix 
Followed byLa Femme de trente ans 

Gobseck, an 1830 novella by French author Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850), appears in the Scènes de la vie privée section of his novel sequence La Comédie humaine.[1] Gobseck first appeared in outline form in La Mode in March 1830 under the title l'Usurier (The Usurer), and then in August 1830 in the periodical Le Voleur. The actual novella appeared in a volume published by Mame-Delaunay under the title Les Dangers de l'inconduite. This novella would appear in 1835 under the title of Papa Gobseck in a volume published by Madame Charles-Béchet. The definitive title of Gobseck originated in 1842 in the Furne edition of La Comédie humaine.

Plot

The plot of Gobseck, set during the French Restoration period of 1815 to 1830, is framed within a conversation between lawyer Maître Derville and the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu. Derville tells a story which focuses on Anastasie de Restaud, née Goriot. Anastasie, the daughter of a rich bourgeois who has married into the aristocracy, is bored by her marriage, which is loveless and passionless.[2]

Anastasie de Restaud has an affair with Maxime de Trailles, and spends her fortune on de Trailles.[2] She turns to the usurer Jean-Esther van Gobseck for financial assistance. Maître Derville acts as Gobseck’s lawyer, while Derville's future wife is also one of Gobseck's debtors.

Anastasie's husband finds out about her debts, so he signs a convoluted contract with Gobseck which is supposed to benefit his and Anastasie's children. However, Anastasie destroys that contract during her irrational schemings. Subsequently, both Anastasie's marriage is destroyed and her family fortune lost.

Eventually, the elderly Gobseck gains an even larger fortune through factoring. Shortly after his death, Derville discovers many treasures in Gobseck's home, including loads of spoiled food which Gobseck had intended to sell.

"'Daddy Gobseck,' I began, 'is intimately convinced of the truth of the principle which he takes for a rule of life. In his opinion, money is a commodity which you may sell cheap or dear, according to circumstances, with a clear conscience. A capitalist, by charging a high rate of interest, becomes in his eyes a secured partner by anticipation. Apart from the peculiar philosophical views of human nature and financial principles, which enable him to behave like a usurer, I am fully persuaded that, out of his business, he is the most loyal and upright soul in Paris. There are two men in him; he is petty and great — a miser and a philosopher…'"

— Honoré de Balzac, Gobseck[3]

Film versions

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

References

  1. ^ Honoré de Balzac. The Human Comedy: Introductions and Appendix. Project Gutenberg. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b Patricia Mainardi, Husbands, wives, and lovers: marriage and its discontents in nineteenth-century France (Yale University Press, 2003), 169.
  3. ^ de Balzac, Honoré. Gobseck . Translated by Ellen Marriage – via Wikisource.
  4. ^ Gobseck (1985 TV film) at the Czech-Slovak Film Database.


Stub icon

This article about an 1830s novel is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

See guidelines for writing about novels. Further suggestions might be found on the article's talk page.

Read other articles:

Daftar Bupati Way Kanan

Bupati Way KananLambang Kabupaten Way KananPetahanaH.Raden Adipati Suryasejak 26 Februari 2021KediamanPendapa Kabupaten Way KananMasa jabatan5 tahunDibentuk1986Pejabat pertamaMuhtar LutfiSitus webwww.waykanankab.go.id Berikut ini adalah Daftar Bupati Way Kanan dari masa ke masa.[1] No Bupati Mulai Jabatan Akhir Jabatan Prd. Ket. Wakil Bupati 1 H.Muhtar LutfiS.H. 1986 1988 1 [Ket. 1] 2 H.Ridwan Basyah 1988 1992 2 [Ket. 2] 3 Drs. H.Mansyur Nur 1992 1994 3 [Ket. ...

 

 

Visa requirements for Russian citizens

Administrative entry restrictions A Russian passport for international travel Visa requirements for Russian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Russia. As of 2024, Russian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 120 countries and territories, ranking the Russian passport 52nd in the world according to the Henley Passport Index.[1] History Henley & Partners Passport Index. 2007 – Q1 2018. Russia. Visa...

 

 

Invincible (Tinie Tempah song)

2010 single by Tinie Tempah InvincibleSingle by Tinie Tempah featuring Kelly Rowlandfrom the album Disc-Overy Released27 December 2010Recorded2010Length3:21LabelParlophoneSongwriter(s) Eshraque Mughal Patrick Okogwu Phillipe-Marc Anquetil Producer(s) iSHi Tinie Tempah singles chronology Game Over (2010) Invincible (2010) Eyes Wide Shut (2011) Kelly Rowland singles chronology Forever and a Day(2010) Invincible(2010) Gone(2011) Music videoInvincible on YouTube Invincible is a song by En...

Kenny Wallace

Cet article est une ébauche concernant la NASCAR. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. Kenny Wallace Données clés Date de naissance 23 août 1963 (60 ans)Saint-Louis, Missouri No  et écurie 09 - RAB Racing 1re course 1990 First Union 400 (North Wilkesboro) Statistiques en NASCAR Cup Series Résultats VictoiresTop 10Poles 0 27 3 Dernière mise à jour : 19 novembre 2012 modifier Kenn...

 

 

Daftar film Bollywood pada tahun 1990

Perfilman Bollywood 1920-an 1920 1921 1922 1923 19241925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930-an 1930 1931 1932 1933 19341935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940-an 1940 1941 1942 1943 19441945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950-an 1950 1951 1952 1953 19541955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960-an 1960 1961 1962 1963 19641965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970-an 1970 1971 1972 1973 19741975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980-an 1980 1981 1982 1983 19841985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990-an 1990 1991 1992 1993 19941995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000-an 2000 2001 200...

 

 

Египтопитек

† Египтопитек Реконструкция внешнего вида египтопитека Научная классификация Домен:ЭукариотыЦарство:ЖивотныеПодцарство:ЭуметазоиБез ранга:Двусторонне-симметричныеБез ранга:ВторичноротыеТип:ХордовыеПодтип:ПозвоночныеИнфратип:ЧелюстноротыеНадкласс:Четвероно...

Mamma Mia! (film)

Mamma Mia!Meryl Streep e Pierce Brosnan in una scena del filmLingua originaleinglese Paese di produzioneStati Uniti d'America, Regno Unito, Germania Anno2008 Durata108 min Rapporto2,35 : 1 Generecommedia, sentimentale, musicale RegiaPhyllida Lloyd SceneggiaturaCatherine Johnson ProduttoreJudy Craymer, Gary Goetzman Produttore esecutivoBenny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson, Mark Huffam Casa di produzioneUniversal Pictures, Relativity Media, Playtone, Litt...

 

 

Josef Samael

American professional wrestler (born 1974) This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.Find sources: Josef Samael – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (March 2010) (Learn how and when to remove t...

 

 

Pioneer Square station

Light rail station in Seattle, Washington This article is about the transit station in Seattle. It is not to be confused with Pioneer Square South and Pioneer Square North stations in Portland, Oregon.  Pioneer SquareLink light rail stationA light rail train and bus at Pioneer Square station, pictured in 2009General informationLocation3rd Avenue and James StreetSeattle, WashingtonUnited StatesCoordinates47°36′10″N 122°19′53″W / 47.60278°N 122.33139°W /...

COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

Ongoing viral pandemic in Italy COVID-19 pandemic in ItalyDiseaseCOVID-19Virus strainSARS-CoV-2LocationItalyFirst outbreakWuhan, Hubei, ChinaIndex caseRomeArrival date31 January 2020(4 years, 4 months, 1 week and 1 day)[1]Confirmed cases26,722,730[2]Active cases141,988[3]Hospitalized cases2,831[3] (active)Critical cases104[3] (active)Recovered25,320,467[3] (total, incl. discharged)Deaths197,018[2]Fatality rate0.74%Vac...

 

 

Résistancialisme

French national myth of armed Nazi resistance This article is written like a personal reflection, personal essay, or argumentative essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings or presents an original argument about a topic. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (December 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Résistancialisme (French; lit. 'Resistance-ism') is a neologism coined by historian Henry Rousso to describe exaggerated historic...

 

 

Gilberton, Pennsylvania

Borough in Pennsylvania, United StatesGilberton, PennsylvaniaBoroughContinental Hose Co. #3 in Gilberton.Location of Gilberton in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.GilbertonLocation in PennsylvaniaShow map of PennsylvaniaGilbertonGilberton (the United States)Show map of the United StatesCoordinates: 40°47′51″N 76°13′33″W / 40.79750°N 76.22583°W / 40.79750; -76.22583CountryUnited StatesStatePennsylvaniaCountySchuylkillIncorporated1873Government • T...

1909 Illinois Fighting Illini football team

American college football season 1909 Illinois Fighting Illini footballConferenceWestern ConferenceRecord5–2 (3–1 Western)Head coachArthur R. Hall (4th season)CaptainBenjamin F. BaumHome stadiumIllinois FieldSeasons← 19081910 → 1909 Western Conference football standings vte Conf Overall Team W   L   T W   L   T Minnesota $ 3 – 0 – 0 6 – 1 – 0 Chicago 4 – 1 – 1 4 – 1 – 2 Illinois 3 – 1...

 

 

中央银行大楼

23°7′2″N 113°15′50″E / 23.11722°N 113.26389°E / 23.11722; 113.26389 中央银行旧址广东省文物保护单位地址广州市越秀区沿江中路193号分类近现代重要史迹及代表性建筑时代民国（1914年）编号4-109认定时间2002年 中央银行大楼建于1914年，位于珠江北岸，两层钢筋混凝土结构，建筑面积1098平方米。正中大堂的外墙以花岗岩石构筑，门口两侧置两只西式风格的石狮，�...

 

 

إغناسيو كارلوس غونزاليس

إغناسيو كارلوس غونزاليس معلومات شخصية الميلاد 17 ديسمبر 1971 (العمر 52 سنة)ساراندي  الطول 1.89 م (6 قدم 2 1⁄2 بوصة) مركز اللعب حارس مرمى الجنسية الأرجنتين  المسيرة الاحترافية1 سنوات فريق م. (هـ.) 1991–1997 راسينغ 133 (8) 1997–1998 نيولز أولد بويز 16 (0) 1998–2002 لاس بالماس 56 (6) 1999–2...

Archangel ivory

Byzantine ivory panel Archangel ivoryon display in the museumMaterialivorySize428 x 143 mm and 9 mm thickCreatedAD 525-550PlaceConstantinoplePresent locationRoom 41 of the British Museum, London The Archangel ivory is the largest surviving Byzantine ivory panel, now in the British Museum in London. Dated to the early 6th century, it depicts an archangel holding a sceptre and imperial orb. Description The archangel is usually identified as Michael, and the panel is assumed to have formed the r...

 

 

SMS Kolberg

SMS Kolberg Le Kolberg en 1912. Autres noms Colmar Type Croiseur léger Classe Kolberg Histoire A servi dans  Kaiserliche Marine Marine nationale Constructeur Schichau-Werke Chantier naval Danzig, Empire allemand Quille posée 15 janvier 1908 Lancement 14 novembre 1908 Commission 21 juin 1910 Statut Transféré dans la marine française le 28 avril 1920 ; démoli en 1929 Équipage Commandant Paul Heinrich Équipage 18 officiers, 349 hommes d'équipage Caractéristiques techniq...

 

 

Alfred von Waldersee

German field marshal For the community in Canada, see Waldersee, Manitoba. GeneralfeldmarschallCount Alfred von WalderseeChief of the German General StaffIn office10 August 1888 – 7 February 1891MonarchWilhelm IIChancellor Otto von Bismarck Leo von Caprivi Preceded byHelmuth von MoltkeSucceeded byAlfred von Schlieffen Personal detailsBorn(1832-04-08)8 April 1832Potsdam, Province of Brandenburg, Kingdom of Prussia in the German ConfederationDied5 March 1904(1904-03-05) (aged 71...

أناكاسيا (ماغنيسيا)

أناكاسيا   تقسيم إداري البلد اليونان  [1] خصائص جغرافية إحداثيات 39°22′55″N 22°58′25″E / 39.381944444444°N 22.973611111111°E / 39.381944444444; 22.973611111111   المساحة 0.785 كيلومتر مربع  الارتفاع 240 متر  السكان التعداد السكاني 888 (resident population of Greece) (2021)921 (resident population of Greece) (2001)890 (resident...

 

 

Qatar Ladies Open

Disambiguazione – Se stai cercando il torneo maschile di tennis giocato allo stesso Khalifa International Tennis Complex, vedi Qatar Open ATP. Qatar Ladies OpenSport Tennis CategoriaTier III (2001-2003)Tier II (2004-2007)Tier I (2008)Premier e Premier 5 (2011-2020) WTA 500 (2021; 2023) WTA 1000 (2022; 2024-) FederazioneWomen's Tennis Association Paese Qatar LuogoDoha ImpiantoKhalifa International Tennis Complex SuperficieCemento CadenzaAnnuale Partecipanti56S/32Q/28D Sito Internetqata...