Father Goriot

<p><strong><em>Father Goriot</em></strong> by Honoré de Balzac is a tragic novel set in Paris that explores greed ambition and the corruption of society. It centers on <strong>Eugène de Rastignac</strong> a poor but ambitious law student and <strong>Father Goriot</strong> an old man living in the same boarding house.</p><p>Goriot once a wealthy merchant has sacrificed everything for his two spoiled daughters <strong>Anastasie</strong> and <strong>Delphine</strong> who abandon him once they've married into high society. As Goriot's health and fortune decline Eugène witnesses how money and social status rule people's hearts. By the end Goriot dies heartbroken and alone while Eugène disillusioned but determined vows to conquer Paris and its ruthless world.</p><p>The novel is a powerful portrayal of <strong>parental love social ambition and moral decay</strong> in 19th-century France.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>