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THE SP LI T PERSONAL I TY OF EUGENE DE RASTI GNAC

Tr evor Fi el d

Havi ng di s c over ed, i n t he c our s e of a t ut or i al on L eP er e Gor i o t , t hat at l eas t one s t udent who had at t endedl ec t ur e s on t he nove l be l i e ved ' Euge ne ' and ' Ra st i gna c 't o be t wo di f f er ent peo pl e, i t o cc ur r ed t o me t hatsome mor e r i gor ous r esear ch mi ght be j ust i f i ed i nt oBal z ac ' s pr ac t i c e o f per s i s t ent l y us i ng t wo names f o rhi s c ent r al c har ac t er . Whi l e obv i ous l y not ex cus i ngt he l az i nes s of t he s t udent i n ques t i on, an ex pl or at i onof t he t ext does s ugges t t hat as f ar as t he novel i s t i sc onc er ned Eugene de Ras t i gnac i s i ndeed made up o f t woc l ear l y def i ned c har ac t er s , and t hat Bal z ac ' s us e of f o r ename o r s u r name at v ar i o us po i nt s i s not o nl y per -s i s t ent , but c onsi s t e nt i n t e r ms of i mpl i ed me ani ngs.1

Thi s al t er na t i on of names i n s omet hi ng over 500exampl es can mor eover be cont r ast ed wi t h Bal zac' spr ac t i c e i n o t her no vel s i nv ol v i ng Ras t i gnac o r s i mi l arc har ac t er s . Thus , L a Peau de c hagr i n ( 1831) has s ome40 r ef er enc es t o Ras t i gnac , who i s por t r ay ed as as uc c es s f ul man of about t hi r t y and who ac t ual l y gi vesl es s o ns i n wor l dl y s u r v i v al t o t he y oung her o Raphael .Si mi l ar l y , i n I l l us i o ns per dues ( 1836- 43) , i t i sRa st i gna c ( a l wa ys r e f e r r ed t o as suc h) who of f e r s

adv i c e t o t he emer gent pr ov i nc i al poet L uc i en deRubempr e; but al t ho ugh muc h s t r es s i s l ai d o n t he wayi n whi c h v ar i ous ot her c har ac t er s s how s c or n f or t hepo et by us i ng hi s o r i gi nal f ami l y name o f Char don,Bal z ac hi ms e l f al way s r ef er s t o hi m as L uc i en. 2 Ot hernov el s of t he per i od s how mor e or l es s c onf us i on, wi t ht wo us e s o f Eugene c r eepi ng i nt o L a Mai s o n Nuc i ngende spi t e an ove r whe l mi ng pr ef e r enc e f or Rast i gna c; a nd at o t al l y mi x ed s i t uat i o n i n Ces a r Bi r ot t eau as t heunf or t una t e bus i ne ssma n t r i e s t o l i v e up t o ' mon nom deCes ar ' .

Agai ns t s uc h a bac kgr ound, i t i s even mor e i nt er -es t i ng t o anal y s e t he way i n whi c h Bal z ac i l l us t r at es

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Ras t i gnac ' s s o c i al appr ent i c es hi p i n Par i s by al t er nat -i ng t he f or ms of hi s name. T he f i r s t f our r ef er enc es ,as i t happens , al l i nvol ve t he f ul l f or m Eugene deRas t i gnac.3 Of t hes e , t wo mer el y t el l t he r eader t hati t i s t o t hi s i nqui s i t i v e y oung man t hat we owe t he

de t a i l s o f t he na r r at i v e, 4 but wher eas t he se ex ampl e soc c ur i n mi d- par agr aph t he ot her t wo us e s of t he f ul lf or m open par agr aphs on pages 60 and 74, and of f er amaj or c l ue t o t he s ubs e quent di v i s i on of t he name.

I n t he f or mer c as e we ar e i nt r oduc ed t o a y oungman wi t h ' un v i s a ge t out mer i di onal ' who i s al s o s eenas ' l ' et udi ant ' ( a doubl e as pec t whi c h i s r ei nf or c ed byt he not e t hat a l t hough he somet i mes dr esses el egant l yt he st udent nor ma l l y we ar s o l d c l ot he s) , whi l e t he sa medi c hot omy c har ac t er i z e s t he s e c ond par agr aph on pp. 74-6: her e t he s t udent i s s een l ear ni ng t he ways of t hewor l d i n Par i s , and t hen, when he r et ur ns t o t he f ami l yho r ne, be i ng di s i l l us i o ne d wi t h hi s f o r mer i de as a bo utwhat i s s mar t or good. Thi s c l as h bet ween t he f ami l yand Par i s , t he pas t and t he f ut ur e, pover t y andpot ent i al weal t h, i s s t r es s e d i n a number of way s ,i nc l udi ng t he oppos i t i on bet ween a v i r t uous des i r e t oowe success t o hi s own ' mer i t e' a nd t he ambi t i ons pr o-voked by hi s ' espr i t . . . emi nemment mer i di onal ' . Thus i ti s t hat t he par agr aph i n ques t i on pr ogr es s e s f r om t wor ef er enc es t o hi s bei ng an ' et udi ant ' , i nc l udi ng t hef i r s t ex ampl e i n t he nov el of t he one wor d Eugene,t hr ough a ment i on of ' I e j eune ambi t i eux ' on t o t he' Ras t i gnac ' whi c h oc c ur s near t he end. Her e, as i n t her es t of t he novel , a s t r uggl e i s goi ng on i n t he youngma n' s hear t a nd mi nd t o de t e r mi ne whet her Eugene, ' I eco ur ageux et udi a nt ' ( 76) , o r Ra st i gnac, ' l ' av ent ur euxMer i di onal ' ( 77) , wi l l wi n t he day ( al l us i ons t o ' I epauvr e et udi ant ' or ' I e nai f et udi ant ' ar e i n f ac t t hef i r s t o f mo r e t han f i f t y ex ampl es wher e t hi s no un e n-t ai l s t he us e of hi s gi v en name) , and our l ar ger demon-s t r at i on of t hi s per s onal i t y s pl i t i s bes t at t empt ed on

t he bas i s of a br oad di s t i nc t i on bet ween ac t i v e andpa ssi v e i nv ol v eme nt i n so ci e t y .

I t i s abs ol ut el y t ypi c al , f or i ns t anc e, t hat t hever y f i r s t us e of ' Eugene' des c r i bes s omeone who hasunder gone an appr ent i ceshi p 'a s on i ns u' , and t hatwher eas i t i s Eugene who r ec ei v es a l et t er ( 75) , t hes ame l et t er i s s ent on t o Mme de Beaus eant i n t he nexts ent enc e by Ras t i gnac . L at er i n t he nov el Eugene' spas s i v i t y i s s ugges t ed by hi s r ec ei v i ng l et t er s , bei ngi nt r oduc ed t o peopl e or di s mi s s e d by t hem, or el s er emai ni ng s peec hl es s : ' Eugene r es t a muet , s a i s i de

t endr es s e ' ( 255) . Ras t i gnac ' s c or r es pondi ng ac t i onsi nc l ude gi v i ng br us que ans wer s t o ques t i ons ( " Di t es que

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j ' i r ai " , 212) , and def i ant l y mai nt ai ni ng a del i ber at es i l enc e: ' Ras t i gnac s e c r oi s a l es br as et r es t a muet '( 222) .

Si mi l a r l y , i f Euge ne ' s uns p ec t a c ul a r mo ve me nt s a r er ef l ec t e d i n t he v er bs whi c h s how hi m mer el y goi ng up

or down s t ai r s , Ras t i gnac i s as s oc i at ed wi t h wor ds l i k e' s ' e l anc; ; a ' ( 257) , ' se pr eci pi t a ' ( 279) and ' degr i ngol [ a] '( 283) . Al t hough t hi s s or t of ac t i on i s a c l ear pr el udet o t he as s er t i v e c har ac t er we hav e al r eady met i n L aP eau de c hagr i n ( ' D' un c oup de pi ed, Ras t i gnac enf onc ; ; a1a por t e de 1a c hambr e, et s ' ec r i a: " Vi c t oi r e! " . . . ')5L e Per e Gor i ot i s c onc er ned wi t h t he c oex i s t enc e of t wooppos i ng t endenc i es , and Bal z ac ' s s y s t em i s c l ear .Eugene i s t he c har ac t er who f ol l ows ot her peo pl e ( i nc l ud-i ng s er vant s : 96) , but wher eas Eugene i s l ed ar ound adanc e- f l oo r i t i s Ras t i gnac who t ak es Del phi ne' s ar m f or

di nner ( 175) . I t be c ome s a ppa r e nt t ha t whe n pe opl es peak har s hl y t o t he her o or l ook at hi m he i s Eugene,as i n hi s f i r s ~v i s i t t o t he Res t aua r es i denc e, wher e hei s s pok en down t o and l ook ed at wi t h ' un de c es r egar dsi mpe r t i ne nt s qui a pl a t i s s e nt [ un ho mme ] , e t I e me t t e nt al ' et at de z e r o' ( 111) ; 6 l a t e r , j us t be f o r e Ra s t i gna co f f er s Mme de Nuc i ngen hi s ar m, her s e r v ant ' ne par t i tpas s ans avoi r j et e un mal i c i eux c oup d' oei l s ur Eugene'(175), whi l e i n al l hi s e nc ount er s wi t h Vaut r i n, Eugenei s t he appr ehe ns i v e obj ec t of t he f or mer c onv i c t ' s' r egar d f r oi dement f asc i nat eur ' ( 211) . Somet i mes ,i ndeed, he i s not not i c ed at al l ( ' Mme de Beaus eant s el ev a . . . s ans f ai r e l a moi ndr e at t ent i on a Euge ne, qui . . .ne s avai t ou s e f our r er . . . ' , 106- 7) . Eugene he r emai nsf or t he dur at i on of t hi s f i r s t vi s i t t o hi s c ous i n, ands o l i t t l e i mpac t does he mak e t hat s he l aps es i nt o as ol i l oquy unt i l s he c hanc es t o meet hi s eye:

" Ah! " f i t - el l e en v oy ant Eugene, " v ous ~t es l a! "" E nc or e, " di t - i l , pi t eus ement . ( p. l I S)

Pr i or t o t hi s s c ene, and at many l at er poi nt s i n t heno vel , Eugene i s r ebuf f ed by peopl e mov i ng i n hi ghs o c i et y , whet her t hey be a r i s t oc r at s , nouv eaux r i c hes ,s er v ant s or ev en c ab dr i v er s , as when he ar r ogant l ydemands t o be t aken t o Mme de Nuci ngen' s t ownhouse:

" L equel ? " di t I e c oc her .Mot s ubl i me qui c onf ondi t Eugene. ( p. 103)

The us e of wor ds 1i k e ' et our di ' , ' gauc he' , ' s t upe-f ai t ' or ' ef f r ay e' i s c ons t ant l y as s oc i at ed wi t h Eugene,t he vi c t i m of event s or peopl e. Hi s i nexper i enc e i sf r equent l y s t r es s ed by s uc h phr as es as ' Eugene, qui nes av ai t r i en des di v er s es et i quet t es par i s i ennes ' ( I DS)and, a s i n t he des c r i pt i on o f t he c oac hma n' s de vas t at i ngques t i on, t he nar r at or of t en es t abl i s hes hi s own s uper i -

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or i t y wi t h r emar ks such as ' se di t Eugene en compr enantun peu t ar di vement ' ( 104) . The pr obl em i s compounded,mor eov er , by hi s l ac k of s el f - k nowl edge: he i s es pec i -al l y pr one t o c ompl ac enc y on t he s t r engt h of any s l i ghts uc c es s , and t he wor d ' f at ' i s mor e t han onc e appl i ed

t o hi m ( 169, 182) . Er r o neo us bel i e f s and s uppo s i t i onsa r e a l wa ys t he pr er oga t i ve o f Eugene ( ' t o ut heur eux des on f aux s uc c es ' , 157) , and t he s t udent i s onl y r ar el ya wa r e of t he ef f ec t he ma kes . Whi l e wel l - br ed peo pl el augh at hi m behi nd hi s bac k ( ' . . . di t I e P or t ugai s enr i ant . . . quand Eugene l es eut qui t t es , 157) , s e r v ant s donot even t r y ver y har d t o hi de t hei r s c or n: ' l es r i r eset ouf f es qu' i l ent endi t dans l ' ant i chambr e mi r ent I ec ombl e a s a c onf us i on' ( 95) . But at l eas t on t hi soc c as i on he has been al l owed i nt o t he hous e - v ar i ouso t her ea r l y v i s i t s meet wi t h pai nf ul r ebuf f s , a s when' Eugene a l I a c hez Mme de Res t aud et ne f ut pas r e~u'(122) !

Havi ng t hus est abl i shed t he mai n char act er i st i csof Eugene, i t woul d be as wel l t o i l l us t r at e t he c on-t r ast i ng qual i t i es of Rast i gnac. When Mme de Beauseantt r i es t o f ob her c ous i n of f wi t h an exc us e, f orexa mpl e, we no t e t ha t wher ea s a t a n ear l i er s t age' Eugene s ' et ai t t r op f aci l ement abandonne . . . a c r oi r eaux nobl es s es de l a f emme' , her l ac k of hones t y i s nowo bvi ous ' pour un obs er vat eur , et Ra s t i gnac l ' et ai tdevenu pr ompt ement ' ( I SO) . Si mi l ar l y, i t i s r at her

f i t t i ng t ha t whi l e Eugene ' s e v i t I i n Del phi ne' s apa r t -ment , t he s hr ewd obs er vat i on t ha t " I I y manque un l i t "( 227) shoul d be made by Rast i gnac!

The s ame gr owt h i n wor l dl y wi s dom i s ev i dent i f onecont r ast s t he scene wher e Eugene uses Del phi ne' s moneya t t he gami ng t abl e ( t he name Eugene i s us ed f o ur t i mesi n qui c k s uc c es s i on her e t o c onf i r m t hat t i l av ai tgagne s ans I e s av oi r ' , 171) wi t h hi s l at er r es o l ut i onupon f i ndi ng t hat t he dy i ng Gor i ot has no money t o payf or necessar y medi cament s: ' ' ' I I me r est e vi ngt f r ancs, "r epondi t Ras t i gnac , " mai s j ' i r ai l es j ouer , j e gagner -

ai ' " ( 268) . As i f t o emphas i z e t he c hange i n t he y oungman a t t hi s po i nt , Ba l z a c i mmedi a t el y r ef er s t o hi m asRas t i gna c when he ent er s Gor i ot ' s r o om, a nd i t i s l ef tt o hi s f r i end Bi anchon t o r est r a i n Rast i gnac' s i mpul s i veaf f i r mat i ons about money- r ai si ng by aski ng pr act i calquest i ons .

No r ma l l y i t i s Eugene who as ks ques t i o ns , whi l eRas t i gna c pr o vi des a ns wer s ~ gi ves or der s or ma kes ex-c l amat i ons . When t he s t udent f i r s t s pi es on Gor i ott hr o ugh t he key- hol e hi s s i l ent exc l ama t i on ( " Pes t e!quel ho mme! " ) bel ongs t o Ras t i gnac , wher ea s Eugene i sc ha r ac t er i z ed by a ner vous per pl exi t y : " Ma i s s er ai t - c e

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do ne un vol eur ou un r ec el eur . . . ? " ( 78) . Meanwhi l e .dur i ng t he ear l y i nt er vi ew wi t h Mme de Beauseant i nwhi c h s he gi ves s u c h i mpor t a nt advi c e on t he wa ys o f t hewo r l d. t he r es ol ut i o n " J ' i r ai ! " i s eno ugh t o ma ke hi m ament al Ras t i gnac ev en t hough he i s ' ac c abl e" by t he

l es s o n whi c h has j us t been gi v en t o Eugene ( 117) . Ther ei s a c ons i s t ent c ont r as t bet ween t he or der s gi v en byRa s t i gna c ( " L ai s s e- mo i s eul un mo ment avec l ui " . 258)and t he ques t i ons as ked by hi s l es s as s er t i ve s el f -f or exampl e. i n t he wor ds whi ch pr ecede t hi s par t i cul arc o mma nd: ' ' ' L a c o mt es s e? " di t Eugene. ' Onc e he i s i n t hemo r e do mi na nt po s i t i o n ( i n t hi s c a s e. s peaki ng t oGor i ot ) , hi s ques t i ons t ak e on a br i s k ai r of aut hor i t y :' ' ' Ana s t as i e es t venue? " dema nda Ras t i gna c ' . Her e t he

ver y ver b i l l us t r a t es t he di f f er enc e f r om hi s meek r es -ponse t o Gor i ot ' s ear l i er af f i r mat i ons about t he

count ess ( ' ' ' Comment ? ' ' di t Eugene' , 228) . or hi s r eact i onwhen Vaut r i n announc es t hat he has pul l ed of f a goodbus i nes s deal : " ' Des af f ai r es ? " di t Eugene. '

No wher e, i n f a c t . i s t he di c ho t o my bet t er i l l us -t r at ec t han i n t he l ong pas s age of adv i c e gi v en byVa ut r i n t o hi s young pr o t ege ( 142- 6) . Vaut r i n bo l dsout t he promise o f a f o r t une and ma t er i a l eas e,embr oi der i ng t he descr i pt i on i n such a way t hat ambi -t i ons ar e ar ous ed: " ' Que f aut - i l que J e f as se? " d i tavi dement Rast i gnac en i nt er r ompant Vaut r i n' . Wor dsl i ke ' a vi dement ' a r e s i mpl y no t par t o f t he des c r i pt i ve

vocabul ar y associ at ed wi t h Eugene. ' and when Vaut r i n out -l i nes a pl a n i nvol v i ng ma r r i a ge a nd a do wr y Ba l z a cs ki l f ul l y s t i es s es t he s t udent ' s do ubt s by t he mer e f o r mof hi s r epl y : ' ' ' Mai s ou t r ouv er une f i l l e? " di t Eugene. 'Af t er Vaut r i n has gi v en y et mor e ex pl anat i ons . t he c o-ex i s t enc e of di s t as t e and admi r at i on i s br ought out i nconsecut i ve r ef er ences t o Eugene ( ' ' ' Quel l e hor r eur ! . . .Vo us voul ez pl a i s a nt er , mo ns i eur Va ut r i n? " ' ) a nd Ra s -t i gnac ( ' ' ' Quel l e t et e de f er a done cet homme! " ' ) .

The s pl i t bet ween s ubmi s s i venes s and s el f - as s er t i on

i s br ought out par t i c ul ar l y wel l i n hi s deal i ngs wi t hGor i ot ' s daught er s . Hi s awk war dnes s as an ' i nt r us ' i none ear l y s c ene wi t h Anas t as i e and her l ov er i s empha-s i z ed by t he r epet i t i on of hi s f or ename ( 97) . and al -t hough he i s addr es s e d as ' mons i eur de Ras t i gnac ' bot hher e and when Anas t as i e' s hus band ar r i v es . t he s ub-s er v i ent r o l e i s mo r e i mpo r t a nt t ha n a ny s uc h t i t l e :' Eugene s ' i ncl i na pr of ondement ' ( 98) ; ' Eugene sal ua

pr of ondement I e c oupl e et s o r t i t ' ( 102) . Suc h t r eat -ment cer t a i nl y mar ks a change f r om t he conf i dent mannerhe ha d put o n when l eavi ng t he pens i o n ( ' Ra s t i gna cs ' habi l l a f or t el egamment ' . 94) - t hough i n f ac t hi sdi scomf i t ur e has been pr epar ed i n t hat same par agr aph

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a s we a r e t o l d t ha t ' Euge ne ma r c ha i t a ve c mi l l e pr e -c aut i ons pour ne s e poi nt c r ot t er ' and t hen ( af t er ades c r i pt i on of hi s ai r y t hought s ) t hat t i l s e c r ot t a,l ' et udi ant ' ! T hr oughout t hi s s c ene t he r api d al t er na-t i o n c ont i nues , but t he at t empt s t o as s e r t hi ms e l f as

Ras t i gnac ar e s p or adi c and s h or t - l i v ed; i t i s onl y muc hl at er i n t he no vel , af t er hi s i nv ol v ement wi t hDe l phi ne , t ha t t he mor e a ssur e d Rast i gna c ' s ' ha bi l l a ,de ma nda une v oi t ur e , e t v i nt c hez Mme de Rest a ud' ( 187) .A t hi r d and f i nal vi s i t s hows t he s t andar d s pl i t i n hi sper s onal i t y as he i s made t o wai t at t he door and i ss pok en t o as Eugene, but bec omes Ras t i gnac as hel aunc hes i nt o a demand f o r Anas t as i e' s pr es e nc e at herf a t her ' s de at hbe d. He ma r c he s i nt o her dr a wi ng- r oom t of i nd her i n a pi t i f ul c ondi t i on, but her wor ds , and t heev i denc e of domes t i c s t r i f e, s o s of t en hi s hear t t hather appeal f o r s y mpat hy i s addr es s e d t o ' l ' et udi ant ' ,a nd a ne w pa r agr a ph opens wi t h t he name ' Euge ne' , whi c hi s t he c har ac t er he wi l l r et ai n as he r us hes of f on af ur t her uns uc c es s f ul mi s s i o n t o her s i s t er Mme deNuci ngen.

As f or De l phi ne he r se l f , we not i c e t ha t her i ni t i ala bi l i t y t o c ont r o l hi s r e ac t i ons ( ' Mme de Nuc i nge nenc our ageai t Eugene' , 157) i s bas e d o n hi s s t ar - s t r uc khumi l i t y , and s h e i s abl e t o do mi nat e hi m whet her s hesp ea ks or whe t he r sh e r e ma i ns st ubbor nl y s i l e nt :' Eugene . . . ne sa v ai t que pe nse r de c et t e r es i s t anc e

muet t e, c ompac t e, obt us e' ( 170) . I n t hei r bat t l e of wi l l s , ' Eugene s e def endi t c omme une v i er ge' ( 174) , andwi t h su c h i ne xpe r i enc e d, a l be i t desp er at e r es i s t a nc e ,i t i s har dl y s ur pr i s i ng t hat s he s houl d t r i umph. How-ever , i t i s at j us t t hi s poi nt i n t hei r r el at i ons hi pt hat a s i gni f i c ant c hange oc c ur s , dev el opi ng t he br i ef per i od o f s u per i o r i t y he had enj o yed when wi nni ng herf av our s i n t he f i r s t pl ac e. As ' l ' et udi ant ' t y pi c al l ywal k s home f r om t he t heat r e, t he f ac t t hat he i s al s oan ' ambi t i eux' pr oduces a di f f er ent , mor e cal cul at i nga t t i t ude : ' Ra st i gnac s ' et a i t e pr i s de Mada me deNuc i ngen' . An ev en mo r e dr amat i c c hange t ak es pl ac e al i t t l e l a t er , a f t er Euge ne ( ' l ' e t udi a nt ' ) di r e c t l yt e l l s De l phi ne t ha t " Vous e t es c ha r ma nt e " ( 169) . Swe ep-i ng as i de her obj ec t i ons , he t ak es her hand wi t h s omeas s u r anc e, wher eupo n ' el l e l a l ai s s a pr endr e' and s ho wss uc h emot i on t hat he i s c l ear l y i n c har ge of t he pr o-c eedi ngs . The openi ng of t he next par agr aph i s t her e-f or e i ns t r uc t i ve: " ' Ec out ez , " l ui di t Ras t i gnac ; " s iv ous av ez des c hagr i ns , v ous devez me l es c onf i er . . . ' "

Onc e t hi s k i nd of di s t i nc t i on i s ac c ept ed, ev ent he ac t of wai t i ng c an be s een t o have pas s i ve o r ac t i ve

c onnot at i ons . When t he eager y oung s ui t or goes t o

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Del phi ne wi t h s ome r eal hope of s uc ces s , t he f ac t t hats he i s t ak i ng a bat h c anno t def l at e hi s as s u r anc e.

Ther e i s no ques t i on her e of bei ng kept wai t i ng - s i g-ni f i c ant l y , Bal z a c does not ev en ment i on se r v ant s :

' Ras t i gnac at t endi t dans I e boudoi r , ~n but t e auxi mpat i ences nat ur el l es a un j eune homme ar dent etpr esse de pr endr e possess i on d' une mai t r esse . . . ' ( 235) .Hi s bat t l e wi t h t he wor l d i s commenci ng ( ' Rast i gnac . . .v oul ai t s e pr es e nt er t out ar me dans l a l i c e du mo nde' ) ,and we ar e r emi nded t hat wher eas Del phi ne c an st i l lr ender t he i nnoc ent y oung ma n speec hl ess ( ' Euge neabat t u gi s ai t s ur l a c aus eus e s ans pouvoi r pr ononc erune par ol e . . . ' , 227) i t was t he s o ci al debut ant Ras t i g-nac who ear l i er o f f er ed her an unhol y r os ar y of c ompl i -ment s ' d' une v oi x c oquet t ement sour de ' ( 157) . Thi s

c ont r as t i s equal l y obvi ous as t he s t udent who c an s up-pl y l adi es wi t h L at i n phr as e s ( 112) t ur ns i nt o Ras t i g-nac , t he i nc r eas i ngl y ar dent s ui t or who quo t esChat eaubr i and t o di s mi s s an appar ent danger t o hi ssoc i a l r eput at i on ( 152) .

Whi l e t hi s ev ol ut i on i s goi ng on t he y oung man i sr ender ed al mos t s c hi z o phr eni c by t he dual el ement s of hi s c har ac t er - i t i s per haps a c as e of ' Eugene deuxRas t i gnac ' ! - and a par agr aph on pages 132- 3, s t ar t i ngwi t h t he wor d Ras t i gnac and endi ng wi t h a phr as e i n-v ol v i ng Euge ne, i l l ust r at es t he poi nt t o per f ec t i on:

t her e ar e t hr ee us e s of eac h name her e, as ' l ' et udi ant 'and t he ' Mer i di onal ' v i e f or s upr emac y i n a c ont es ts y mbo l i z ed by t he not e t hat ' depui s un moi s i l s ' et ai t. . . dev el oppe c hez Eugene aut ant de qual i t es que dedef aut s ' . The c ompl ex i t y of t he s t r uggl e i s mor eov ers ugges t ed by t he way t he f i r s t us e of Ras t i gnac , i n apassi ve cont ext , i mmedi at e l y f ol l ows t he wor d ' l ' et u-di ant ' , whi l e t he f i na l phr a se i s ' Eugene se mut i na' .

The vi t al importance of this l i ai s on i n hi s c ar eeri s under l i ned by s e ver al ot her ex ampl es of c ont ex t ual

c onf us i on. Thus , ' Ras t i gnac s e t r ouvai t . . . dans unes i t uat i on pe~pl ex e' s ho r t l y bef or e we hear t hat ' Del -phi ne s e j ouai t de Ras t i gnac ' ( 181- 2) ; whi l e i f i t i sRas t i gnac who bec omes her l o ver and i s r epor t ed t o bes t i l l wi t h her at one i n t he mor ni ng ( 238) , he s oonwant s t o s t ay unt i l an even l at er hour , but appear s t ous her e as Eugene. I n bot h s cenes t he r eas on f or t hec onf us i on i s c l ear : Bal z ac want s t o s how how hi s wor l di s bei ng r ev ol ut i oni z e d, and j ust bef or e Del phi ne ' sf i r s t us e of ' t oi ' he i s por t r ayed bot h as ' l ' et udi ant 'and as an ambi t i o us y oung man i n a par agr aph whi c h ends :

' Aus s i . . . s evoyai t - i l s i l oi n du Ras t i gnac venu l ' anneeder ni er e a Par i s , qu' en I e l or gnant par un ef f et d' op-t i que mor al e, il s e demandai t s ' i l s e r es s embl ai t en c e

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moment a l ui - meme' ( 237) . Si mi l ar l y, when hi s t wo namesar e l at er al t er nat ed t wi c e i n onl y s ev en s ent enc es i t i ss ur el y t o pr ov e y et agai n t hat ' t out et ai t c hange danss a vi e' ( 262) .

Del phi ne s t ands out as a vi t al agent i n t he pr oc es so f l eadi ng Eugene o n t o f ul l y as s u me t he s ur name whi c hi s hi s as of r i ght i n t he novel s whi c h des c r i be hi sl at er s uc ces s . The c ont r as t bet ween her t ownhous e andhi s l o dgi ngs i s eno r mo us , and on mo r e t han t went y o cc a-s i o ns we ar e r emi nded o f Eugene' s i nf er i or i t y by c on-t ex t ual l i nk s wi t h t he pens i on. Hi s mor al angui s h i she i ght e ne d by ma t e r i al di sc omf or t , espec i al l y at me al -t i mes, a nd t he c ompa ny of hi s f e l l ow- boar de r s a t t a bl ec an s t i l l r et ur n hi m t o hi s ver y or di nar y s el f even att he end of t he dr ama: ' Eugene des c end i t pour pr endr e un

peu de nour r i t ur e' ( 286) . ' Un peu' i s s i gni f i c ant her ei n t hat i t . r emi nds us of t he s t udent ' s pov er t y , s een i none of t he v er y ear l i es t r ef er enc es ( 76) as Eugene donsJ une mec hant er edi ngot e' bef or e s i t t i ng down t o r ead ata poor f i r e i n t he r oom whi c h l at er c aus es Del phi ne t oex cl ai m: " Oh! quel l e hor r eur ! " ( 253) . I t c omes as nos ur pr i s e t hat Ras t i gnac of t en expr es s e s t he wi s h t oes c ape f r o m t hi s env i r onment , and t he bas i c s t r uc t ur e o f t he nov el i s neat l y ex empl i f i ed as Eugene l eaves t hepe nsi on ( 168) , t o ar r i v e i mme di a t e l y a t De l phi ne' s a sRas t i gnac . Onl y f i v e wo r ds s e par at e t he names i n t he

t ex t , but i t i s a new c har ac t er who emer ges f r om t he c ab( wheel ed t r ans p or t r egul ar l y has t hi s ef f ec t ) . I ndeed,whenev er t he her o f l ees t he s o r di d c onf i nes of t hema i son Va uquer he i s a s r egul a r l y t r a nsf or me d i nt o Ras-t i gnac ( e. g. , 164) as t he r et ur n wi l l br i ng hi m down t oear t h:

" Comment et es- vous r evenu?" demanda Vaut r i n." A pi ed, " r epondi t Eugene. ( 163)

The al l i ed ques t i on of money i s handl ed i n ex ac t l yt he s ame way . Eugene' s f i nanc i al s ac r i f i c es f or Goriot

r el i ev e hi m of ev en t he l i t t l e money he has , s o t hatwhi l e i t i s Ras t i gnac who wr i t es t o Go r i o t ' s s o ns - i n-l aw t o r eques t t he payment of bur i al f ees , or whodec l ar es t he o l d man' s deat h i n a quas i - o f f i c i al c apa-c i t y , we not e t hat i t i s ' Eugene et Bi anc hon' who wor kout t hat wi t hout s o me as s i s t anc e t hey hav e har dl y anymoney l ef t . And whi l e f our of t he l as t f i ve al l us i onsi n t he novel ar e t o Ras t i gnac , t he ot her one ver yl ogi c al l y r ef er s t o t he f ac t t hat when as ked f or a t i pby t he gr a ve - di gge r s ( who a ddr ess t he mse l v es t o Ra st i g-nac , f or he i s a gent l eman i n t hei r eyes ) ' Eugene

f oui l l a dans s a poc he et n' y t r ouva r i en' ( 290) .I n t he same way t hat it i s Ras t i gnac who has t o pay

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t he pr i es t ' s f ee. s o. whenever he pays peopl e. i s as kedf or . r ec ei ves . or envi s ages money . i t i s t he s ur namewhi c h appear s i n t he t ex t . Thus i t i s Eugene who v i ewsVi ct or i ne ' comme I e pl us ver t ueux j eune homme r egar deune r i che her i t i er e ' . but Rast i gnac who i mmedi at e l y sup-pl i es a f i gur e f or t he money i nv o~v ed ( 163) . Ther e i san addi t i onal neat t ouc h by t he aut hor her e as heunder l i nes Vi c t o r i ne' s o wn i nno cenc e by s a yi ng t hat s h e' ne manqua pas de t r ouv er Eugene c har mant ' - o nl y a f ewpa ge s e ar l i e r we l e ar ne d t ha t ' Mme de Nuc i nge n t r ouv aRa st i gnac c ha r mant ' ( 156) . and t he c ha nge of na meaccent uat es t he di f f er ence i n t he women' s char act er s.as wel l as i n t hat of t he young man.

The c onc er n wi t h money i s al s o obv i ous i n t he c on-t r ast i ng but compl ement ar y f i gur es of Vaut r i n and

Gor i ot , whose a t t e mpt s t o i nf l ue nc e Euge ne f or t hei r ownbenef i t pr oduc e i n hi m t he s ame s or t of c l as h whi c h wehav e s een i n ot her c ont ex t s . Vaut r i n' s s uper i or i t y i si mme di a t e l y e st a bl i shed when Eugene ask s hi m a st r i ng of ques t i ons ( 85- 6) , and i t c ont i nues i n t he f or m of r egu-l ar r ef er enc es t o Eugene' s dependenc e o n ' v ot r e pet i tpapa Vaut r i n' ( 137) . 7 Eugene i s t y pi c al l y r educ ed t o a' t r e mbl e me nt c onv ul s i f ' ( 184) whe n t he t empt e r i s a t hi s

mos t pot ent , i n a s c ene whi c h c l os el y f ol l ows t he not et hat he had s een i nt o t he s t udent ' s s oul by r emai ni ng i na r oom ' de mani er e A n' @t r e pas vu d' Eugene, qui put I e

c r o i r e par t i ' . Dur i ng t hi s epi s o de Vaut r i n' s wor ds ar eas el oquent as hi s mi nd i s f er t i l e - t her e ar e ei ghtr ef er enc es t o Eugene o n pages 184- 7 - and Eugene' samaz ed or appr ehens i v e ques t i ons oc c upy but a t i ny f r ac -t i on of t he scene: ' ' ' Quel homme @t es- vous donc?"s ' e cr i a Eugene , " v ous a vez e t e c r e e pour me t our ment er . ' "

But Vaut r i n, of c our s e. i s a ment or as wel l as at o r ment o r , and t he nov el c har t s t he pr o gr es s i o n f r omEugene' s s hoc ked r eal i z at i on t hat ' vot r e Par i s es t doncun bour bi er ' t o t he ev ent ual dec i s i on t o adapt t o t hemor al quagmi r e. Hi s c r i s es of doubt and r ev al uat i on ar e

ex pr es s e d by s e ver al maj o r s c enes i n whi c h t he name Ras -t i gnac f o r c es i t s e l f unex pec t edl y i nt o t he t ex t , as whenVa ut r i n announc es t ha t t he de at h of Vi c t or i ne ' s br ot herhas def i ni t el y been ar r anged, and of f er s t o pas s on aus ef ul t i p about doi ng away wi t h awk war d peopl e. Thei mpl i c at i o n t hat he i s ac c ept i ng Ras t i gnac as an ac c om-pl i c e - c ont r ar y t o Eugene' s ear l i er pr ot es t : " Mai s j ene s ui s pas vot r e c ompl i c e" ( 187) - i s c onf i r med by t hedet ai l t hat ' Ras t i gnac ec out ai t d' un air s t upi de, et nepouvai t r i en r epondr e' ( 196) . Thi s s or t of hel pl es sst at e i s nor ma l l y a ssoc i a t ed wi t h Eugene , but Vaut r i n' s

bl andi shment s ( " mon pet i t a i gl on! . . . vous @t es f or t ,c ar r e. poi l u; vous avez mon es t i me" ) ar e des i gned t o

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enc our age t he uns c r upul ous s i de of hi s c har ac t er . I nf ac t , ev en t hough he r ej ec . t s Vaut r i n' s pl an and f eel squi t e weak , hi s s ens e of out r age i s s t r ong enough t opr ompt br us que a c t i o n ( ' Ras t i gnac r et i r a v i veme nt [ s amai n] ' ) and mor al r es o l v e: ' Ras t i gnac n' hes i t a pl us '

(196) .One ot her not abl e s c ene i nv ol v i ng t he c onf us i on of

expect ed val ues occur s i mmedi at el y bef or e he wr i t es homet o as k hi s f ami l y f or money . The appar ent c ont r adi c -t i ons i n t he not e t hat ' Vaut r i n r egar da Ras t i gnac d' unai r pat er nel et mepr i s ant ' or t he bol d r es o l ut i on' ' ' Ai ns i f er ai - j e, " di t Eugene' ar e neat l y pr epar ed by

hi s c onf us e d s t at e upon r et ur ni ng t o t he pens i on f r omMme de Beaus e ant ' s hous e: ' L a t r ans i t i on et ai t t r opbr us que, I e c ont r as t e t r op c ompl et , pour ne pas dev el op-pe r o ut r e me s ur e c he z l ui I e s e nt i me nt de l ' a mbi t i on'

( 118) . Bal z ac devel ops t hi s i dea at s ome l engt h andev en adds t he c omment t hat t i l [ Ras t i gnac ] et ai t enc or ebi en enf ant ! ' Vaut r i n may t r y t o dous e hi s gr owi ngambi t i o n by c al l i ng hi m ' mon pet i t ' and c ut t i ng o f f t hei r c onver s at i on, but t he c ons equent r et ur n t o t hec har ac t er of Eugene i s not per manent . Cl ear l y , Vaut r i ni s nur t ur i ng a pot ent i al r i val i n hi s young pr ot ege, asi s s een i n anot her s cene oc cur r i ng at t he pens i on as hor t t i me l at er . Onc e mor e Vaut r i n i s ' goguenar d' atEugene' s ex pens e ( 133) , but t he young Sout her ner i s nowr e s ol ved t o c ha l l e nge Va ut r i n' s s upr e mac y. Ras t i gnact her ef or e us es a c ol d, abr upt t one when handi ng over ami nor debt , and Vaut r i n' s at t empt t o br i ng bi m down ape g by c al l i ng hi m ' mo ns i e ur I e ma r qui s de Ras t i gna c or -ama' f ai l s pr ec i s el y bec aus e t he s t udent ( now s o angr yt hat ev en t hi s r epeat ed t aunt c annot r educ e hi m t oEuge ne) o bj e ct s t o ha vi ng hi s f a mi l y na me di s t o r t e d:" ' Mons i eur Vaut r i n, j e ne s ui s pas mar qui s , et j e ne

m' appel l e pas Ras t i gnac or ama" . ' Bal z ac br i ngs out t heac t i ve, det er mi ned s i de of hi s c har ac t er not onl y bydes c r i bi ng hi s ac t i ons , but al s o by t he c hoi c e of name:' Rast i gnac f er ma l a por t e . . . , en emmenant avec l ui

Vaut r i n. ' The t one her e, whi c h l eads t he ot her boar der st o bel i ev e t hat a duel i s i mmi nent , i s v er y di f f er entf r om t he i nnoc ent obedi enc e of t he f i r s t s c ene i n t heno ve l bet wee n t he t wo me n ( ' " Qui di a bl e , mo ns i eur Va u-t r i n, a pu vous di r e s on nom? " demanda Eugene' , 86) , andwhen Vaut r i n now abr upt l y dec i des t o gi v e an ac c ount of hi s l i f e i t i s t o Ras t i gnac t hat he s peaks .

Thus i t i s t hat , des pi t e s ev er al l at er r ever s i onst o Eugene i n t he c ont ex t of Vaut r i n' s dr uggi ng bot h hi mand Gor i ot , t he mov ement t owar ds equal i t y v i a t he us e of

names i s a not abl e f eat ur e. When Vaut r i n hi ms el f i sdr ugged ( 212) hi s l as t c ons c i ous wor ds ar e s pok en t o

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Ras t i gnac . and i t i s Ras t i gnac who c ons i der s t he pos -s i bl e out c ome of t he c as e. F i nal l y. when Vaut r i n i sr ev eal ed as t he ar c h- c r i mi nal Col l i n hi s power ov erEugene i s br ok en - ' Ses y eux s ' ar r @t er ent s ur Ras t i gnac '( 219) - and al t hough t he y oung man l oo ks away he r emai ns

Ras t i gnac bec aus e of t hei r ' c ous i nage c r i mi nel ' . Thev er y l as t r ef er enc e t o t hei r r el at i ons hi p not es t hatVaut r i n' s par t i ng wor ds Ine [ f ur ent J c ompr i s e s que deRas t i gnac et de l ui ' . a degr ee of equal i t y whi c h hasbeen r ei nf or c ed. not under mi ned. by a s t r i k i ngl y r api dt r ans i t i on: ' I l . . . se r et our na pour r egar der Rast i gna c." Adi eu. Eugene. " di t - i l d' une voi x douc e et t r i s t e'( 221) . Thi s f i nal appear anc e of Eugene' s name i n t hec ont ex t of Vaut r i n i s i n f ac t Vaut r i n' s f i r s t di r ec tus e of i t . and may be s een as t he equi val ent of at ut o i ement . But whi l e s t r es s i ng t hi s c hange i n t hei r

r el at i ons hi p. Bal z ac al s o wi s hes t o poi nt out t hat t hey ounger man has c hanged i n hi ms e l f . s o t hat wher eas t hepr ev i ous r ef er enc e t o Eugene had been at t he s t ar t of t he sc e ne . when he wa s r educ ed t o t r embl i ng by Vaut r i n' sgaz e. t he f ac t t hat i t i s Ras t i gnac who i s l ooked ather e conf i r ms hi s gr owt h i n wor l dl y st at ur e.

The al l us i on i n t he pr evi ous par agr aph t o Vaut r i n' ssupe r i or mani pul at i on of ' Eugene et I e pe r e Gor i ot '( 202) r emi nds us of t he l as t c ont ex t ual as s oc i at i on t obe c ons i der ed. I t need be no s ur pr i s e t hat i n t hi snovel t he her o i s l i nk ed wi t h Gor i ot mor e c l os el y t hanany ot her c har ac t er . but what i s s i gni f i c ant i s t hepr edomi na nc e of Chr i s t i a n- name r e f e r enc es. The r e ar eover 75 c as es wher e t he s i mpl e pr es enc e of Gor i ot i n t hes c ene di c t at es t he us e of Eugene. and t hi s makes t heme r e doz en al l us i ons t o Rast i gna c pa r t i c ul ar l y not abl e.

We s houl d f i r s t poi nt out br i ef l y t he nor mal c on-not at i ons of ' Eugene' i n t er ms of Gor i ot . The name i sover whe l mi ngl y assoc i at e d wi t h hi s pi t y . sy mpat hy andadmi r at i o n f o r I e per e Gor i ot : ' Eugene et ai t pet r i f i epar l ' i nepui sabl e d~vouement de c et homme ' ( 231) . When

t hey ar e i n one anot her ' s r ooms at ' t he pens i on. or i nt he di ni ng- r oom. t hei r bei ng ' de bons ami s ' i s s t r es s e dby t he us e of Eugene' s name. and mer el y s peak i ng ort hi nk i ng about Gor i ot i s enough t o c onf i r m Eugene' sbas i c c har ac t er . Thus . af t er hi s r et ur n f r om t het heat r e one ni ght as t he ambi t i o us Ras t i gnac . ' l ' et ud-i ant f r appa r udement a l a por t e du per e Gor i ot ' ( 159) .but hi s ' s t up~f ac t i o n' at Gor i ot ' s pov er t y i s c l ear l ydet er mi nant i n hi s bei ng c al l ed Eugene on a doz en c on-s ec ut i ve oc cas i ons dur i ng and j us t af t er t hei r f i r s tvi s i t t o t he r oom. I f Gor i ot i s as s oc i at ed wi t h t he

l es s as s er t i ve s i de of hi s c har aQt er . however . i t i sal s o ev i dent t hat t he y oung man c an c hange c ons i der abl y

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when l ef t t o hi s own dev i c es : hav i ng wr i t t en home f ormo ne y and c ons i der e d hi s wo r l dl y po s i t i o n, he exc ha nge sa br i ef wor d wi t h Gor i ot on t he l andi ng bef or e ' I e per eGor i ot s e r et i r a en bal but i ant quel ques par ol es dontEugene ne s ai s i t pas I e s ens . L e l endemai n, Ras t i gnacal I a J et er s e s l et t r es A l a pos t e' ( 12l ) .

Thi s ki nd of c hange t o a mor e wor l dl y char ac t er i sa l s o s e en whe n Go r i o t o f f e r s hi m mo ne y t o f ur t he r t hea f f a i r wi t h De l phi ne . Whi l e t he o l d ma n e xpl i c i t l yv i ews t he c oupl e as hi s c hi l dr en, t he ac c ept anc e of whati s on of f er pr oduc es a not abl e s hi f t i n one s hor t par a-gr aph ( 230) : ' Quel ques pl eur s r oul er ent a l a f oi s dansl es y eux d' Eugene et de Del phi ne, qui s e r egar der entav ec s ur pr i s e . Ras t i gnac t endi t l a mai n au bonhomme etl a l ui s er r a. ' Her e we not e t hat t he ac qui s i t i ve nat ur e

whi c h i s e xc i t e d by t he bar ga i n over r i de s t he nor ma lsemant i c associ at i on bet ween ' I e bonhomme' and Eugene.I t mor eover f ol l ows a s c ene of s ever al pages i n whi c haccust omed usages ar e consi st ent l y negl ect ed, pr esum-abl y as a r ef l ec t i on of Eugene' s bewi l der ed s us pi c i ont hat ' auj our d' hui I e monde es t done r env er s e' ( 226) .Al r eady Gor i ot has been s een t o be s o ov er j oy ed at t hepr os pec t of di nner wi t h Del phi ne t hat he c an phy s i c al l ymanhandl e not onl y Eugene ( ' qui r es t ai t pens i f dans unc oi n' ) but hi s s t r onger avat ar as wel l - ' I I t i r a s iv i o l emme nt Ra s t i gna c pa r I e br a s , qu' i l I e f i t ma r c he r

de f or c e, et par ut l ' enl ever c omme s i c ' eOt et e s amai t r es s e' - and t hi s br i l l i ant ex t r a s ugges t i on of r e-newed v i gour i s c ont i nued as Gor i ot , as s ur i ng hi m t hatal l i s wel l , t ak es hi m of f i n a c ar r i age t o s ee Del phi ne.

The young man' s s ens e of a ' f a nt as magor i e' i s c onf i r medby h' i s ne xt que s t i o n ( ' ' ' Ma i s o u me c o ndui s e z - vous do ne ? "l ui de ma nda Ra s t i gna c ' ) , and by Go r i o t ' s c l i ppe d r e pl y :I I I Al l o ns , mo nt o ns , " di t - i l a Ra s t i gna c - e n l ui f a i s a ntt r aver s er une c our t ( 227) . Thi s i s one of t he onl yoc cas i ons i n t he novel when Gor i ot i s i n c har ge of t hes i t uat i on. and t he us e of ' Ras t i gnac ' i n t hes e pagesc l ev er l y r ei nf or c es bot h t he r eader ' s s ur pr i s e and t heher o' s bewi l der ment .

Ot her s hi f t s of name ar e s i mi l ar l y ex pl i c abl e: asGor i ot t r i es t o f os t er t he l i ai s o n wi t h Del phi ne hi se l o quenc e i n de s c r i bi ng t he a pa r t me nt he ha s pr o vi de dma y l e ave ' Euge ne t o ut a ba s our di ' , but f r om Go r i o t ' spoi nt of vi ew he i s a member of a f ami l y wi t h a c oat of ar ms , and s i nc e he i s expl oi t i ng t hi s f ac t i t i snat ur al l y Ras t i gnac whom he s e es ac r os s t he r oom; andi f , on f i ndi ng Del phi ne' s l et t er , ' Eugene en f utat t endr i ' , Gor i ot has a s oc i al r eas on f or hi s f eel i ngs :

' I I ai mai t dej a Ras t i gnac et pour s a f i l l e et pour l ui -meme. ' L at er , when Eugene ar r i v es bac k at t he pens i on

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pr omI s I ng t o t el l Gor i ot al l about hi s ev eni ng at t het he at r e , t he pl e a f or mor e i nf or ma t i on i s ma de ' qua ndRas t i gnac pas s a dev ant s a por t e' : t he ol d man' s s ubs er -v i enc e i s her e as obv i ous as hi s pr i de nex t mor ni ng

when ' Gor i ot et Ras t i gnac ' get r eady t o l eav e t hepens i on ( 239) . The s ame i mpl i c at i on of equal i t y i spr es ent when ' Vaut r i n, I e per e Gor i ot et Ras t i gnac ' godown t o di nner t oget her ( 200) . The s ur r oundi ngs t hi st i me a r e l e ss i mpor t a nt t ha n Gor i ot ' s ha ppi ne ss nowt hat Ras t i gnac has ac c ept ed t he i dea of c our t i ng Del -phi ne i n t hei r own l ove- nes t ; and t he f ac t t hat hi sc onf i denc e i s s har ed by t he s t udent i s s hown by hi sname - no t l o ok ed do wn o n ( wi t h Go r i o t ) by Vaut r i n, butse en a s pa r t of a powe r f ul t r i umv i r a t e .

As o ne mi ght ex pec t , i t i s al mo s t ex c l us i v el y

Euge ne who wa t c he s Gor i ot ' s r a pi d s l i de t owa r ds de at h.The var i at i ons whi c h do oc c ur ar e c ons i s t ent wi t h t hepa t t e r n t r a c ed t hus f a r , howe ve r : we not e , f or e xa mpl e ,t hat wher eas t he phr as e ' l ai s s ant Eugene s eul avec I ev i ei l l ar d' i s f ol l owed by Gor i ot ' s wor ds t o hi s ' c herenf ant ' ( 271) , t he mor e act i ve f or mul at i on ' Rast i gnacr es t a s eul pr es du v i ei l l ar d' pr epar es f or hi s di s i l l u-s i oned t hought s on s oc i et y and nat ur al j us t i c e. Thes a me bi t t er nes s ex pl ai ns t he o t her us e s o f hi s s u r namei n t he deat hbed s c ene, i nc l udi ng a whol e c at egor y of r ef er enc es t o Ras t i gnac i n whi c h he i s amor al j udge of

Anas t as i e and Del phi ne, r at her t han a f r i end of t hei rf at her . I t i s Ras t i gnac who s ees Gor i ot ' s pov er t y asdev al ui ng hi s da ught e r s ' di a monds ( 266) , a nd whosei ndi gnat i o n i s s o o bv i o us when he i s c onf r Ont ed wi t ht he o l d ma n' s f i l t hy c ondi t i ons ( ' ' ' Mon Di e u! " di t Ra s-t i gnac , " mai s s e s f i l l es ! ' ' ' , 269) . He r emai ns s t i f f l yf o r mal as f i r s t Del phi ne' s s e r v ant , t hen Anas t as i ea r r i v e, a nd a l t hough Ana st a s i e t r i e s t o ma ke hi m me l t( ' ' ' Ri en' ne manque a mon mal heur , " di t - e l l e , en r egar d-ant Eugene' ) he mer el y r ubs i n t he c r uel t y of t he s i t u-at i on by bal dl y agr eei ng wi t h her admi s s i on t hat s he

has been unwor t hy of her f at her : ' ' ' I I I e s av ai t , " di tRast i gnac' ( 286) .

At t he end of t he novel , t hen, one i s s t r uc k by t hef i nal emer genc e o f Ras t i gnac , s u per s e di ng t he t ender -he ar t e d Euge ne who wa t c he d Gor i ot e nt e r i nt o hi s de at h-t hr oes . Thi s ev ol ut i on i ndeed of f er s a mi c r oc os m of L e Per e Gor i ot , and I hope t o hav e s hown i n s uf f i c i entdet ai l t hat a v er y c ompr ehens i v e pl an i s o bs e r v abl e.whe r e by t he na me Euge ne c har a c t e r i z e s t he ga uc he orpuz z l ed s t udent who l odges at t he pens i on VauQuer , as k -i ng ques t i o ns and admi t t i ng hi s i nf er i o r i t y , bei ng k eptwai t i ng and s pok en down t o; i n c ont r as t t o t hi s pas s i v ec har ac t er , Ras t i gnac i s t he buddi ng man o f t he wo r l d,

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an as s er t i v e Sout her ner who ex pl oi t s hi s power s of ob-s er vat i on t o domi nat e ot her peopl e. One has onl y t osuggest t he cont ext of a gi v en r ef er enc e t o t he her of or Bal z ac ' s c hoi c e of name t o be pr edi c t abl e. They oung ma n be l i ev es i n God - he must be Eug~ne ( ' Eug~ne

c r oyai t en Di eu' ) ; but i n t he ver y next s ent enc e, ' al ' heur e du ba l , Rast i gna c a l I a c he z Mme de Bea use ant '( 177) . Si mi l ar l y, he i s hones t as Eug~ne ( " 1 e c oeur es tun bo n gui de" ) but wi t hi n mi nut es i s s e duc ed by ex t er nalappear anc es : ' en s e v oyant bi en mi s , bi en gant e, bi enbo t t e, Ras t i gnac o ubl i a s a v er t ueus e r es o l ut i on' ( 147) .

I t i s wor t h i ns i s t i ng on t he val i di t y of t hi sgener al pl an, s i nc e we ar e deal i ng not wi t h a f ew doz enc as es but wi t h over 525 r ef er enc es , s pl i t al mos t ex ac t l y2: 1 i n f avour of Eug~ne ( 354: 175, s auf er r eur ) . And i nt he s ame way t hat f our of t he l as t f i ve al l us i ons ar e t oRa st i gna c , so t hi s na me be come s mor e f r e que nt i n t hec our s e of t he t ext : t he f i r s t hal f of t he novel hast hr ee us es of Eug~ne f or ever yone of Ras t i gnac , t hes ec ond hal f j us t t hr ee f or ever y t wo. Meanwhi l e, i f t heoc c ur r enc e s of ' Eug~ne' a r e ex t r e me l y r egul ar , wi t h anav er age of over one per page and s c ar c el y a page wi t houtt he na me, me nt i ons of Ra st i gna c t e nd muc h mor e t o oc c uri n gr oups . The bes t exampl es of t hi s ar e t he s ec t i on( 115- 36) whe r e Rast i gna c r e sol v es t o f o l l ow Mme deBe ause ant ' s a dv i c e, wr i t e s home f or mone y, a nd be c ome sc onf i dent enough t o s t and up t o Vaut r i n; t he v i t al s ec -t i on ( 212- 22) whe r e he i s shown goi ng t hr ough a mor a lc r i s i s at t he t i me of Vaut r i n' s ar r es t - t hi s i s t heonl y epi sode whe r e r Eug~ne ' i s out number e d ( 8: 14) by' Ras t i gnac ' ; and t he s c e ne ( 263- 9) wher e hi s educ at i o ni s c ompl et ed by hi s f o r c i ng bo t h Mme de Beaus e ant andDel phi ne i nt o s u bmi s s i o n: ' " Ah! t e v oi l a c omme j e t ev oul ai s , " s ' ec r i a Ras t i gnac ' ( 263) .

One c an never k now j us t how c ons c i ous t hi s s pl i t -t i ng of names was on Bal z ac ' s par t . and t he ques t i on i si n any c as e of mi nor i mpor t anc e. What i s f as c i nat i ng i s

t he ov er al l pat t er n wher eby ov er 500 r ef er enc es c an bes e en t o c or r el at e wi t h par t i c ul ar qual i t i es , whi l e ev enappar ent i nc ons i s t enc i es oc c ur at moment s o f c onf us i o nor s t r es s f or t he her o. Thi s cons i s t enc y i s al l t hemo r e s t r i k i ng when o ne c ons i der s t he r ando m us e of ' Ces ar ' and ' Bi r ot t eau' i n a s l i ght l y l at er novel :' Ces ar ' , f or ex ampl e, i s us ed t o s ugges t bot h i nnoc enc eand ambi t i o n, whi l e t he s ur name i s us e d t o s h ow bo t h t hebus i nes s man' s s ol i di t y and t he way he i s t r i c ked. I nL e P ~r e Gor i ot , howe ver , t he r e i s a per ma ne nt di s t i nc -t i o n bet ween t he Ras t i gnac who ' av ai t c ompr i s ' a gi v en

s oc i al r ul e ( 130) and t he i ngenuous Eug~ne whos e ' educ a-t i on s ' ac hevai t ' near t he end of t he novel ( 268) . And

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o nc e t h i s po i n t ha s bee n r ea c he d , Ba l z a c i s c ar e f u l t os ho w h i m a l o ne , c ha l l e ng i ng P ar i s i t s e l f , s o t ha t t hef i na l pa r a gr a ph c o nf i r ms t he e vo l u t i o n o f E uge ne deRa s t i g na c b y e n di n g wi t h a n a me ma n y t i me s mo r e i mp o r t -a nt t ha n t ha t o f Mme Va uque r , wh i c h o pe ne d t he na r r a -

t i v e: ' E t po ur p r e mi e r a c t e du de f i qu ' i l po r t a i t a

l aS oc i e t e , Ra s t i g na c a l I a d i n er c h ez Mme de Nu c i n ge n. '

Un i v e r s i t y o f Ab e r d e en

m rn s

1 . T h e g e n e r a l p o i n t h a s b e e n e x p r e s s e d b e f o r e , n o t a b l y b y A. R.P u g h : ' i n Go r i o t t h e r e wi l l b e Eu g en e , an d t h e d an d i e s , i n -c l ud i ng Ras t i gnac ' ( ' Rec ur r i ng Char ac t er s i n L e Per e Gor i o t ' ,ML R , L V I I ( 1 9 6 2 ) , 5 1 B - 2 2 , p . 5 2 2) . Ho we v e r , j u s t a s a r e f e r -enc e t o ' t he t wo Ras t i gnac s ' , l i ke J . Po mmi er ' s ' de uxRas t i gnac s , et meme p l us i eur s ' ( ' Nai s s anc e d ' un her os :Ra s t i g n a c ' , RHL F , L ( 1 9 50 ) , 1 9 2- 2 0 9, p . 1 9 7) , c o u l d b e a

l i t t l e mor e p r ec i s e , s o Pet er L oc k ' s o t her wi s e he l p f u l r emar kson Gor i o t as a B i l dungs r oman ( Le Per e Gor i o t : S t ud i es i n F r enc hL i t e r a t u r e , 1 1 , L on d on : A r n o l d , 1 9 6 7 ) a r e a l l mad e i n r e l a t i o nt o R as t i g n ac . Th e p r e s en t a r t i c l e i s i n t en d ed t o d ev e l op , n o tt o c ont r ad i c t , s uc h ear l i er obs er va t i ons .

2 ~ Th e n ea r e s t B a l z a c c omes t o a v a r i a t i o n i s i n t h e p h r a s e' L u c i en n ' e t a i t p a s p r o t e , i l e t a i t M. d e Ru b emp r e ' ( L aCome di e huma i ne , P l e i ade e di t i o n, V , 233 ) . - -

3 . Th e f a c t t h a t t h e f ami l y n ame was Mas s i a c i n t h e ea r l y p ag eso f t he manus c r i p t does no t a l t e r t he p r es en t a r gumen t .

4 . p p. 5 6 a n d 6 3 o f t h e P l e i a d e e d i t i o n ( v o l . I I I ) .5 . L a C o me d i e h u ma i n e . X, 1 9 4.

6 . I n t h e s a me s c e n e ( p . l O B ) t he r e i s a r e f e r enc e t o ' un r egar ddon t l ' i mper t i nenc e g l a~a l ' et ud i ant ' .

7 . V au t r i n ' s u s e o f t h i s i mag e wh en s c o r n i n g Eu g en e a s a ' g r an den f an t ' ( 211 ) o r war n i ng h i m aga i n s t ' des en f an t i l l ages '( 187 ) adds an ex t r a i r ony t o Ras t i gnac ' s own r ebuke t oRa p h ae l i n L a P e a u d e c h a g r i n . t e n y e a r s l a t e r : ' T u e s u nen f an t ' ( p . 166).