Honore de Balzac and Gustave Flauberts Writings on...

Honore de Balzac and Gustave Flauberts Writings on Capitalism The Revolution in France, during the 19th century, gave power to the people for the first time in France. French citizens now had faith that they could form a strong, independent country; but what they did not realize was that there must be some form of financial or monetary backbone present for a country to excel on its own in the modern world. This gave way to the rise of capitalism and all its follies, debaucheries, and mainly the exploitive nature it excites in people. Two authors, who were writing and observing these changes during this time in France, Honore de Balzac, and Gustave Flaubert, exemplify the demoralization of a people caused by the onslaught of†¦show more content†¦Eugene’s actions are exploitive because he has no regard for the well-being of his family by asking for their life-savings. Eugene also does not take into account how he is going to recover the sums he unethically acquires. However, capitalism’s influence does not stop with Eu gene in this instance. The idea of needing expensive clothes and flashy attire influences his sister Laura that she should use her sewing and clothes making skills in order to save Eugene some money, and therefore have a better chance of Parisian high society accepting him. Eugene says that his sister has â€Å"become as crafty as a thief† (87), which comments on the changes within her caused by the minute exposure to modern, capitalistic, ideals. However, really Laura is stealing from herself by willingly exploiting her own labor without compensation of any sort. Here, along with the ever-present portrayal of Goriot’s daughters bamboozling him for money, Balzac illustrates the most pathetic and demoralizing form of exploitation: when one exploits or unfairly takes advantage of their own family in a way that can lead them to starvation or even death. Pere Goriot and Eugene are not only involved with family exploitation, but they are also taking advantage of each other in hopes of gaining