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Chapter 61: A History of Manners in Nineteenth-Century French Society
Chapter 60 History of customs in French society in the nineteenth century: "Human Comedy"

Through "Human Comedy", we see the historical process of the decline and decline of the feudal aristocratic class and the rise and development of the bourgeoisie.

Vivid picture - what Engels called the "central picture" of "Human Comedy". In 1815, after the Restoration Dynasty was established, the Guizhou
The society tried to regroup and "do its best to restore the old French way of life".But Balzac, with his keen observation
It is noted that the bourgeoisie has grown strong enough to confront the aristocracy, whose rottenness has been clearly exposed.
Come.Thus, he truly "descried how the last remnants of what he considered a model society lived in vulgar, money-stained

under the pressure of a new upstart, or be corrupted by this upstart". The tragedy of Montgona in "The Peasant"

The defeat and the retirement of Mrs. Bossian in "Old Man Goriot" all vividly show how the aristocratic class walks under the pressure of the bourgeoisie.

to perish.

Writer's career "Human Comedy"

Honoré de Balzac was born on May 1799, 5 in a middle-class bourgeois family in Toure, France. 20

After graduating from high school, Balzac entered the university to study law.At the same time, according to the requirements of his parents, he used the gap between studies to work in legal affairs.

and notary public services.From all kinds of cases, he saw the fierce struggle around property, saw the

The dark corruption of Parisian society.This will be of great benefit to his future creation.

In 1819, Balzac obtained a bachelor's degree in law and began his "writer's career".While he was reading classical titles in the library
At the same time, he is engaged in intense conception and creation.Half a year later, he handed in the paper to his parents with the poetic tragedy "Cromwell".

It was a flop, and it was not well received at the very forgiving family readings.But he took a step after all.from 18
During the four or five years since 19, he has created more than 40 novels full of magical and fantasy colors by himself or in cooperation with others under various pseudonyms.

His works attract readers with bizarre events, unpredictable plots and sensational murders.These lack of thought

Both content and artistic novels and plays failed.

In 1829, he published a long historical novel "Partisans of Choon".This is the first time he has signed, in his real name, a distinctly realistic

It is also an important turning point for Balzac to critical realism, marking that his literary creation has advanced.
into the mature stage.In the following 20 years, it was the heyday of his creation, and he produced "Human Comedy" at a rate of four or five every year.

building. In 1842, when the edifice of The Comedy of Human Beings was half-completed, he publicly denied that these were originally published under a pseudonym.
Literary works: "Only when published under my name, I will admit that it is my work."

The period from 1836 to 1842 was the stage from the completion of the general idea of ​​"Human Comedy" to its official naming.During this period Balzac's vision expanded
Now, the reflection of life is broader.He paid more attention to describing the reality of the July Dynasty, and aimed his criticism at the financial

bourgeoisie.At this stage, he wrote more than 30 works.

Balzac dedicated his life to writing a "custom history" of contemporary French society, and planned to write more than 140 novels. 1
In 837 he compiled his works for the first time, published under the name "Social Studies".Later, inspired by the Italian poet Dante
Inspired by his "Divine Comedy", in 1842 he compiled the novels he had written since 1829 under the general title "Human Comedy".

", and wrote the preface himself. From 1843 to 1848, it was the late period of Balzac's creation.number of works
Significantly less than before

, but the thought is deeper.Several late works profoundly exposed the essence of the July Dynasty from different angles.due to recognition
With the deepening of consciousness, he no longer just describes a single protagonist and his life, but through a series of pictures of equal development, he shows the

The life of a social group and even the fate of the whole society and the times reflect that the depth and breadth of life have taken a big step forward.
The criticism is sharper and the art is more skilled. On August 1850, 8, when Balzac died, a total of long, medium and short
There are 96 novels.

Constructing a literary building, the epitome of the French dynasty

"Human Comedy", a brilliant literary edifice, includes more than 90 novels, novels and short stories, according to Balzac's own classification.

There are three categories: "custom studies", "philosophical studies" and "analytical studies".This is a story about the decline and decline of the feudal aristocracy.
The history of the demise and rise of the bourgeoisie shows that from 1816 to 1848, all social classes and people in France
vivid images of objects.

The author's intention is to describe all kinds of social phenomena through "custom research"; to clarify these phenomena with "philosophical research"

reasons; "analytical research" is a satirical inquiry into social principles.Among them, the works classified as "custom research" are the most.

Divided into 6 parts: "Private Life Scenes", "Provincial Life Scenes", "Paris Life Scenes", "Political Life Scenes"

Scenes", "Scenes of Military Life", "Scenes of Country Life", these are the main parts of "Human Comedy".

The task Balzac set for himself was to truly reflect social life.He said in the "Preface": "French society will be
Historian, I am only his secretary. "He chronicled the rise of the bourgeoisie from 1816 to 18 almost year by year.
This period in 48 describes the day-by-day impact on the aristocratic society". Under the pressure of the bourgeoisie, the feudal aristocratic class
Classes are gradually declining, and money has become the only force that dominates society.Around such a "central picture" he brings together French

the entire history of society. "

"Eugenie Grandet" and "Old Man Goriot" are the two most famous of all Balzac's novels.

Taiwan has become synonymous with nouveau riche and miser known to women and children all over the world.

"Old Man Goriot" is another representative work of Balzac in this period. It is the author's decision to take the whole creation as an organic whole

The first novel published later is known as the cornerstone of "Human Comedy".

During this period, Balzac still had certain illusions about the aristocracy, although he felt that they did not deserve a better fate,
Their demise poured out sympathy, and often sought ideal figures among the aristocracy.He is often structured around a central figure

With the development of his novels, along with the maturity of his overall conception of "The Comedy of Human Beings", new features appeared in Balzac's creation

.

"Disillusionment" trilogy (1837 ~ 1843) is one of the most important works of Balzac.It is based on Wang Zhengfu before the July Revolution

social reality of the time. "Disillusionment" was praised by Marx for its true and extensive reflection and profound analysis of social reality.

"The Famous Novels of Balzac".

From 1829, when "Partisan de Choon," which first won Balzac's literary reputation, to the mid-30s, Balzac
The first phase of Zack's creation.With keen observation, he saw more and more clearly that after the July Revolution, the aristocracy not only
There is no power to change the status quo, and there is no power to restore the inevitable decline of this class.Although he sometimes sympathizes with nobles

But in a series of novels he published, it truly reflects the reality that the nobility is on the decline. early 30s
In his creation in [-], Balzac focused on reflecting the theme of the decline and fall of aristocratic society, which is full of characteristics of the times.

The more important novels of this period include "The Donkey's Skin" (1831), "Colonel Chapel" (1832), "The Abandoned Woman".
Female"

(1832), "Country Doctor" (1838), etc. "Country Doctor" describes the transformation of a poor and ignorant small mountain village

become
The story of a paradise where everyone has enough food and clothing and everyone is equal.Through the description of this ideal paradise and the long discussion, Balzac
Fully expounded his utopian ideals and political views.

The important late work "Aunt Betsy" (1846) is a memoir of the famously corrupt July Dynasty.The novel is through society

Obscenity and ugliness sharply criticize the corruption of the money kingdom.

"Uncle Bangs" (1846~1847) unfolds another ugly picture.The story revolves around the battle for the legacy of famous painting collectors
This incident profoundly revealed the disintegration of kinship relations caused by the worship of money during the July Dynasty.

The Peasant (1844~1852) is the last novel of Balzac.The writer attaches great importance to this work: "This novel

One of the most important works I have made up my mind to write, how many times have I stopped writing and how many times I have written again in the past 8 years

Write this book..." But at the end of his life, he still hadn't finished the novel, and the last few chapters were continued by his wife from the rough draft after his death.
publishing.

Balzac is an outstanding representative of French and European critical realism literature in the first half of the 19th century. "Human Comedy" is an extremely
In his brilliant work, Balzac showed the reality of France in the 19th century with keen vision and sharp pen.

However, the world view reflected in "Human Comedy" is very complex and full of contradictions, which is a reflection of the fierce and turbulent era

, It is also a reflection of his class status and the life path he has traveled.The time when this masterpiece was created was precisely the time when the bourgeoisie
The feudal aristocracy fought life and death, and the era when the working class began to step onto the stage of history.The content of the novel spans the Napoleonic empire
, Restoration Dynasty, and July Dynasty.After the French Revolution, Republic and Monarchy, Progress and Regression, Restoration and Anti-Restauration

The struggle of the Communist Party of China is extremely sharp, and the class struggle is intricate.Therefore, "the world outlook in the book is intertwined with idealism and materialism, revolution and reaction.

movement, kingship and democracy, prejudice and science, a mixture of right thinking and wrong ideas". But in this excellent work,
Progressive thought reigns supreme.

(End of this chapter)