Goriot, Book IV

          The hardships of this tragedy for Eugène and those that surround him continue to escalate in this area of the novel. After attending the ball with Delphine and spending lavishly on items to propel him higher into the aristocratic Parisian society, Eugène finds himself in debt. He occasionally gambles to ward some of it off, but still falls short. Under the pressure to provide for himself and Delphine outside of Goriot’s generous and self-sacrificing contributions, the voice of temptation rises through Vautrin. Vautrin wishes to call Victorine’s brother to a duel, so that when he dies the money will go to her, as well as Eugène—if he marries her.

          Vautrin’s sinister proposal ushers forth a series of moral dualisms that often take form in melodramatic genres. Several of them arise when Eugène struggles with Vautrin’s temptation. The first dualism present is materialism versus moral values. For Vautrin suggests to Eugène quick money at the expense of doing things ethically incorrect to achieve it. 

“You would be a fine haul for the devil! I like youngsters of your sort. Get rid of one or two more prejudices, and you will see the world as it is.” (90) 

          On the other hand Eugène believes in a more gradual, hard-working attitude towards building status, while “keeping his prejudices”. Eugène faces both extremes and must decide how far he will go to reach material and social superiority.

          Much of his struggles relate to the historical time he exists in—the Bourbon Restoration. After Napoleon lost power in the late 18^th century, the economic status of French society was in flux with the shift of power back to a monarchy. With economic instability came social mobility, allowing many people of non-noble statuses to become aristocratic. As a result of such fluidity, lower class people like Eugène found opportunity to rise. Therefore he faces much pressure to climb the social ladder by his family, and through his hardships demonstrates the author’s pessimistic attitude towards such climbing.

          The second dualism Eugène faces is materialism versus love. Victorine’s dowry provides a larger amount of money than that of Delphine’s. Eugène does slip slightly into Vautrin’s temptation as he begins courting Victorine, but that does not last. Once he is assured that his love for Delphine is mutual, he springs himself into passion for her only, as well as having tender care for Goriot.