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La Comédie Humaine #61
Z. Marcas
Z. Marcas vit misérablement dans une chambre d'étudiant. Revenu de toute ambition politique et journalistique, il enseigne à deux étudiants pauvres et désabusés sa vision d'une France en déclin, dont la jeunesse est maintenue sous le joug de parvenus insatiables, et asphyxiée par une société oligarchique ne vivant que par et pour l'argent. Face à l'impossibilité d'une action politique reste la possibilité d'une révolution.
92 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1836
About the author
Honoré de Balzac
10.1k books4,548 followersFrench writer Honoré de Balzac (born Honoré Balzac), a founder of the realist school of fiction, portrayed the panorama of society in a body of works, known collectively as
La comédie humaine
.
Honoré de Balzac authored 19th-century novels and plays. After the fall of Napoléon in 1815, his magnum opus, a sequence of almost a hundred novels and plays, entitled, presents life in the years.
Due to keen observation of fine detail and unfiltered representation, European literature regards Balzac. He features renowned multifaceted, even complex, morally ambiguous, full lesser characters. Character well imbues inanimate objects; the city of Paris, a backdrop, takes on many qualities. He influenced many famous authors, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles John Huffam Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Henry James, and Jack Kerouac as well as important philosophers, such as Friedrich Engels. Many works of Balzac, made into films, continue to inspire.
An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac adapted with trouble to the teaching style of his grammar. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in the world of business. Balzac finished, and people then apprenticed him as a legal clerk, but after wearying of banal routine, he turned his back on law. He attempted a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician before and during his career. He failed in these efforts From his own experience, he reflects life difficulties and includes scenes.
Possibly due to his intense schedule and from health problems, Balzac suffered throughout his life. Financial and personal drama often strained his relationship with his family, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, he married Ewelina Hańska, his longtime paramour; five months later, he passed away.
Honoré de Balzac authored 19th-century novels and plays. After the fall of Napoléon in 1815, his magnum opus, a sequence of almost a hundred novels and plays, entitled, presents life in the years.
Due to keen observation of fine detail and unfiltered representation, European literature regards Balzac. He features renowned multifaceted, even complex, morally ambiguous, full lesser characters. Character well imbues inanimate objects; the city of Paris, a backdrop, takes on many qualities. He influenced many famous authors, including the novelists Marcel Proust, Émile Zola, Charles John Huffam Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, Henry James, and Jack Kerouac as well as important philosophers, such as Friedrich Engels. Many works of Balzac, made into films, continue to inspire.
An enthusiastic reader and independent thinker as a child, Balzac adapted with trouble to the teaching style of his grammar. His willful nature caused trouble throughout his life and frustrated his ambitions to succeed in the world of business. Balzac finished, and people then apprenticed him as a legal clerk, but after wearying of banal routine, he turned his back on law. He attempted a publisher, printer, businessman, critic, and politician before and during his career. He failed in these efforts From his own experience, he reflects life difficulties and includes scenes.
Possibly due to his intense schedule and from health problems, Balzac suffered throughout his life. Financial and personal drama often strained his relationship with his family, and he lost more than one friend over critical reviews. In 1850, he married Ewelina Hańska, his longtime paramour; five months later, he passed away.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 12, 2011
Very short, and a bit bitter in tone for my taste. Z. Marcas is a man of great talent who tried to make his way in the world through study, hard work and prudent employment leading to preferment, but the Minister he worked for used his talents and then sabotaged his chances of gaining a position as a deputy. This happened twice, and then a third time when the two young students who shared his lodgings helped him out, for he was eking out a subsistence existence on 30 sous a day. The pressure of it all led to his premature death, and Juste and the narrator were the only mourners at his funeral.
Balzac is making the larger point that the young were being denied opportunity in this period, and that even for educated young lawyers and doctors often there was no alternative but to go overseas to make their way, but the story is a bit sour and mercifully short.
Balzac is making the larger point that the young were being denied opportunity in this period, and that even for educated young lawyers and doctors often there was no alternative but to go overseas to make their way, but the story is a bit sour and mercifully short.
September 9, 2021
Balzac's "Z. Marcas" is a short story that I started to read when I was fairly tired, so I decided to read it again because my mind had not grasped what this story was all about. I am so glad that I took the time to re-read and what a genius Balzac was, he understands the human experience! Z. Marcas was a man that feels for France, he sees the selfish ends of many leaders and also governmental men, "he seemed to doubt what the fate of France might be, and it was this doubt that had made him ill. He had, he thought, detected treason in the heart of power, not tangible, seizable treason, the result of facts, but the treason of a system, the subordination of national interests to selfish ends.His belief in the degradation of the country". I so sympathize with his sentiment, it is heart breaking to see the country you love being destroyed for money and power, something that is happening today. The press in their bias keeps the truth from coming out which helps in the disruption. I also like that Rabourdin's son is shown as a kind soul, both him and his friend help Marcas. Rabourdin is from "The Government Clerks"
Short story in short- Z. Marcas lives in the same poverty stricken rented room with two young men as neighbors.
I did not read this edition but from a Delphi collection of his works which included the below.
"This short story was written in 1840 and appeared in La Revue Parisienne in October 1841. The tale seems to despair of humanity in general, except for a few “great men”, often incorruptible, selfless, but necessarily poor and rejected by others. The story concerns Zéphirin Marcas, a native of Vitre, who is of humble origin and remarkable intelligence. Marcas studies hard for his doctorate in law, before trying for journalism and finally attempting to enter politics. The young man’s pursuits mirror Balzac’s own uncertainty with regards to a career in his younger years, before he established himself as a novelist."
"I will not take it upon myself to assert that names have no influence on the destiny of men. There is a certain secret and inexplicable concord or a visible discord between the events of a man’s life and his name which is truly surprising; often some remote but very real correlation is revealed."
"Could there be a higher tribute to the Court of Charles X. than the present Court, if Court it may be called? What a hatred of the country may be seen in the naturalization of vulgar foreigners, devoid of talent, who are enthroned in the Chamber of Peers! What a perversion of justice! What an insult to the distinguished youth, the ambitions native to the soil of France!"
"Marcas, our neighbor, was in some degree the guide who led us to the margin of the precipice or the torrent, who made us sound it, and showed us beforehand what our fate would be if we let ourselves fall into it. It was he who put us on our guard against the time-bargains a man makes with poverty under the sanction of hope, by accepting precarious situations whence he fights the battle, carried along by the devious tide of Paris — that great harlot who takes you up or leaves you stranded, smiles or turns her back on you with equal readiness, wears out the strongest will in vexatious waiting, and makes misfortune wait on chance"
"What he lived by was the breath of ambition; he dreamed of revenge while blaming himself for yielding to so shallow a feeling. The true statesman ought, above all things, to be superior to vulgar passions; like the man of science."
"the young have a keen craving to admire; they love to attach themselves, and are naturally inclined to submit to the men they feel to be superior, as they are to devote themselves to a great cause."
"His fury at feeling that he had in his hands the remedy for the evils which so deeply saddened him, and could not apply it, ate into his soul, and this rage was increased by the inferiority of France at that time, as compared with Russia and England. France a third-rate power! This cry came up again and again in his conversation. The intestinal disorders of his country had entered into his soul. All the contests between the Court and the Chamber, showing, as they did, incessant change and constant vacillation, which must injure the prosperity of the country, he scoffed at as backstairs squabbles."
"Just now you change ministries as a sick man turns in his bed; these oscillations betray the weakness of the Government. You work on an underhand system of policy which will be turned against you, for France will be tired of your shuffling."
“You have come to ask my support, but you are an atom in that decrepit heap which is made hideous by self-interest, which trembles and squirms, and, because it is so mean, tries to make France mean too. My strong nature, my ideas, would work like poison in you; twice you have tricked me, twice have I overthrown you. If we unite a third time, it must be a very serious matter. I should kill myself if I allowed myself to be duped; for I should be to blame, not you.”
💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠 spoiler alert🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
Z. Marcas has been duped by previous leaders who he has supported only to find out
their true color though they are poor after hearing The path of success is limited and the young men discuss this. Charles Rabourdin and Justi want to help him dress for success, though they have to borrow. Justi is studying to be a doctor and Charles for law. Three months later the government falls and disheartened Marcas has seen that he was used and he becomes ill and dies. Before his death he tells his friends to make their fortune elsewhere, it is too hard in France.
"RABOURDIN (Charles), law-student, son of the preceding couple, born in 1815, lived from 1836 to 1838 in a house on rue Corneille, Paris. There he became acquainted with Z. Marcas, helped him in his distress, attended him on his death-bed, and, with Justi, a medical student, as his only companion, followed the body of this great, but unknown man to the beggar’s grave in Montparnasse cemetery. After having told some friends the short, but pitiful story of Z. Marcas, Charles Rabourdin, following the advice of the deceased, left the country, and sailed from Havre for the Malayan islands; for he had not been able to gain a foothold in France. "
"He had sounded the crater of power; he came away from it with the beginnings of brain fever. The disease made rapid progress; we nursed him. Juste at once called in the chief physician of the hospital where he was working as house-surgeon. I was then living alone in our room, and I was the most attentive attendant; but care and science alike were in vain. By the month of January, 1838, Marcas himself felt that he had but a few days to live."
"Marcas expressed the greatest contempt for the Government; he seemed to doubt what the fate of France might be, and it was this doubt that had made him ill. He had, he thought, detected treason in the heart of power, not tangible, seizable treason, the result of facts, but the treason of a system, the subordination of national interests to selfish ends.His belief in the degradation of the country was enough to aggravate his complaint."
Short story in short- Z. Marcas lives in the same poverty stricken rented room with two young men as neighbors.
I did not read this edition but from a Delphi collection of his works which included the below.
"This short story was written in 1840 and appeared in La Revue Parisienne in October 1841. The tale seems to despair of humanity in general, except for a few “great men”, often incorruptible, selfless, but necessarily poor and rejected by others. The story concerns Zéphirin Marcas, a native of Vitre, who is of humble origin and remarkable intelligence. Marcas studies hard for his doctorate in law, before trying for journalism and finally attempting to enter politics. The young man’s pursuits mirror Balzac’s own uncertainty with regards to a career in his younger years, before he established himself as a novelist."
"I will not take it upon myself to assert that names have no influence on the destiny of men. There is a certain secret and inexplicable concord or a visible discord between the events of a man’s life and his name which is truly surprising; often some remote but very real correlation is revealed."
"Could there be a higher tribute to the Court of Charles X. than the present Court, if Court it may be called? What a hatred of the country may be seen in the naturalization of vulgar foreigners, devoid of talent, who are enthroned in the Chamber of Peers! What a perversion of justice! What an insult to the distinguished youth, the ambitions native to the soil of France!"
"Marcas, our neighbor, was in some degree the guide who led us to the margin of the precipice or the torrent, who made us sound it, and showed us beforehand what our fate would be if we let ourselves fall into it. It was he who put us on our guard against the time-bargains a man makes with poverty under the sanction of hope, by accepting precarious situations whence he fights the battle, carried along by the devious tide of Paris — that great harlot who takes you up or leaves you stranded, smiles or turns her back on you with equal readiness, wears out the strongest will in vexatious waiting, and makes misfortune wait on chance"
"What he lived by was the breath of ambition; he dreamed of revenge while blaming himself for yielding to so shallow a feeling. The true statesman ought, above all things, to be superior to vulgar passions; like the man of science."
"the young have a keen craving to admire; they love to attach themselves, and are naturally inclined to submit to the men they feel to be superior, as they are to devote themselves to a great cause."
"His fury at feeling that he had in his hands the remedy for the evils which so deeply saddened him, and could not apply it, ate into his soul, and this rage was increased by the inferiority of France at that time, as compared with Russia and England. France a third-rate power! This cry came up again and again in his conversation. The intestinal disorders of his country had entered into his soul. All the contests between the Court and the Chamber, showing, as they did, incessant change and constant vacillation, which must injure the prosperity of the country, he scoffed at as backstairs squabbles."
"Just now you change ministries as a sick man turns in his bed; these oscillations betray the weakness of the Government. You work on an underhand system of policy which will be turned against you, for France will be tired of your shuffling."
“You have come to ask my support, but you are an atom in that decrepit heap which is made hideous by self-interest, which trembles and squirms, and, because it is so mean, tries to make France mean too. My strong nature, my ideas, would work like poison in you; twice you have tricked me, twice have I overthrown you. If we unite a third time, it must be a very serious matter. I should kill myself if I allowed myself to be duped; for I should be to blame, not you.”
💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠💠 spoiler alert🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻🔻
Z. Marcas has been duped by previous leaders who he has supported only to find out
their true color though they are poor after hearing The path of success is limited and the young men discuss this. Charles Rabourdin and Justi want to help him dress for success, though they have to borrow. Justi is studying to be a doctor and Charles for law. Three months later the government falls and disheartened Marcas has seen that he was used and he becomes ill and dies. Before his death he tells his friends to make their fortune elsewhere, it is too hard in France.
"RABOURDIN (Charles), law-student, son of the preceding couple, born in 1815, lived from 1836 to 1838 in a house on rue Corneille, Paris. There he became acquainted with Z. Marcas, helped him in his distress, attended him on his death-bed, and, with Justi, a medical student, as his only companion, followed the body of this great, but unknown man to the beggar’s grave in Montparnasse cemetery. After having told some friends the short, but pitiful story of Z. Marcas, Charles Rabourdin, following the advice of the deceased, left the country, and sailed from Havre for the Malayan islands; for he had not been able to gain a foothold in France. "
"He had sounded the crater of power; he came away from it with the beginnings of brain fever. The disease made rapid progress; we nursed him. Juste at once called in the chief physician of the hospital where he was working as house-surgeon. I was then living alone in our room, and I was the most attentive attendant; but care and science alike were in vain. By the month of January, 1838, Marcas himself felt that he had but a few days to live."
"Marcas expressed the greatest contempt for the Government; he seemed to doubt what the fate of France might be, and it was this doubt that had made him ill. He had, he thought, detected treason in the heart of power, not tangible, seizable treason, the result of facts, but the treason of a system, the subordination of national interests to selfish ends.His belief in the degradation of the country was enough to aggravate his complaint."
March 1, 2011
According to this anecdotal tale by Balzac, there was little possibility for a young student, however brilliant, to break into government or the professions -- these being occupied under the July monarchy of Louis Philippe by middle-aged and elderly no-talents. Two students, one in medicine and one in law, named Charles and Juste respectively, are rooming in grim 6th floor lodgings and discover a leonine young man named Z. (for Zephirin) Marcas, who is living under more straitened conditions than they are. They befriend him and listen to his complaints about the sad state of the French ministries.
Twice, Marcas had worked for a politician, and twice been betrayed by his envy. When the politician comes begging to Marcas's apartment to give him a third opportunity, he turns him down. Charles and Juste, having overheard the conversation, barge in and ask why he didn't accept. When Marcas admits he has no appropriate clothing, the two friends put themselves deep into hock to help him out.
What finally happens disgusts Juste and Charles, who leave France -- one for Asia and the other for the Americas -- agreeing with their friend's original assessment of the grim employment situation.
Twice, Marcas had worked for a politician, and twice been betrayed by his envy. When the politician comes begging to Marcas's apartment to give him a third opportunity, he turns him down. Charles and Juste, having overheard the conversation, barge in and ask why he didn't accept. When Marcas admits he has no appropriate clothing, the two friends put themselves deep into hock to help him out.
What finally happens disgusts Juste and Charles, who leave France -- one for Asia and the other for the Americas -- agreeing with their friend's original assessment of the grim employment situation.
July 5, 2018
A very short story set in 19th Century France .. A rather sad tale of the dissolution of one mans' life as he strives to change the current Political system, namely to move away from the supporters of the bygone era and embrace the talents of the younger generation .. Although written of its time, the parallels with today's political outlook in Europe are both surprising very interesting ..
Not my usual read at all ..
Not my usual read at all ..
January 14, 2020
2.5 stars. A tale that tells what seems to be a universal truth about politics: it tends to ruin good men and women, alienate young people, and drive away the brightest minds who might make strong leaders or government officials. This isn’t Balzac’s best story, but it certainly gives strong insight into his views on politics and still remains relevant to modern readers.
October 13, 2023
Honoré de Balzac nous offre un aperçu fascinant du monde politique du XIXe siècle dans sa nouvelle "Z. Marcas". Cette histoire captivante explore la vie d'un homme humble, Jean-François Marcas, et ses aspirations à jouer un rôle important dans le jeu politique.
Balzac nous emmène dans le Paris politique de l'époque, nous permettant de découvrir les intrigues, les rivalités et les luttes de pouvoir qui régnaient. Le personnage de Marcas, modeste et idéaliste, incarne l'espoir de la jeunesse et la conviction que l'engagement politique peut changer les choses.
Ce récit est à la fois une réflexion sur la politique et une introspection sur la nature humaine. Balzac nous rappelle que la passion, le dévouement et la persévérance peuvent influencer des événements bien au-delà de ce que l'on pourrait imaginer.
"Z. Marcas" est un bijou littéraire qui nous pousse à réfléchir sur le pouvoir de la jeunesse, l'aspiration au changement et la persistance face à l'adversité. Une lecture incontournable pour ceux qui s'intéressent à la politique, à l'histoire et à la condition humaine.
Balzac nous emmène dans le Paris politique de l'époque, nous permettant de découvrir les intrigues, les rivalités et les luttes de pouvoir qui régnaient. Le personnage de Marcas, modeste et idéaliste, incarne l'espoir de la jeunesse et la conviction que l'engagement politique peut changer les choses.
Ce récit est à la fois une réflexion sur la politique et une introspection sur la nature humaine. Balzac nous rappelle que la passion, le dévouement et la persévérance peuvent influencer des événements bien au-delà de ce que l'on pourrait imaginer.
"Z. Marcas" est un bijou littéraire qui nous pousse à réfléchir sur le pouvoir de la jeunesse, l'aspiration au changement et la persistance face à l'adversité. Une lecture incontournable pour ceux qui s'intéressent à la politique, à l'histoire et à la condition humaine.
January 21, 2019
A disgraced politician in 1830’s France attempts to change the government while influencing a couple of college kids to make moves after their studies are over. Z. Marcus seemed deeply bitter and disillusioned; causing the two young men to not want to be a part of any cause anywhere.
January 15, 2021
A genuinely sad story and a little gem of realism in the description of the lives of the two students. Short but perfect.
January 7, 2025
Un breve relato que entretiene bastante.
February 17, 2025
Je retiens que le Z figure le zigzag aléatoire et fantasque d’une vie tourmentée
March 1, 2025
Grandeur et décadence d'un homme qui aurait pu devenir un grand homme d'état.
September 1, 2025
More like 3.5 tbh
April 8, 2012
This is a very small book, a short story about Z Marcas, a neighbor of the main character who was into politics but had a lot of disappointments.
I think this was more like a social critique, a need of Balzac to attach injustice. The book was ok, what surprised me though was the fact that he described a 19th century France but it seemed so current. He describes a dissapointed youth that has to rebel, a government ruled by barbarians and intellectuals are not much different from corrupted polititians. A fine short story...
I think this was more like a social critique, a need of Balzac to attach injustice. The book was ok, what surprised me though was the fact that he described a 19th century France but it seemed so current. He describes a dissapointed youth that has to rebel, a government ruled by barbarians and intellectuals are not much different from corrupted polititians. A fine short story...
November 7, 2022
Z��phirin Marcas a la stature d'un homme d'��tat. Mais, il est pauvre et vient de la province. Pour trouver des appuis il offre ses services �� des hommes m��diocres qui l'exploitent sans vergogne jusqu'�� la mort. Balzac conte cette histoire tragique dans un style violent et sombre, qui lui donne une terrible actualit��. La d��couverte de l'identit�� du narrateur montre l'ironie sombre de ce r��cit.
March 24, 2016
Boring.
August 26, 2018
Conto publicado em 1840 que encerra as Cenas da Vida Política.
Narrado em primeira em pessoa por um jovem estudante sem recursos que divide um quarto numa espécie de pensão e lá conhecem o misterioso Z. Marcas, homem que parece não combinar com aquele ambiente tão miserável. Ambos se tomam de curiosidade por ele, acabam travando amizade e a partir daí conheceremos seu passado por ele mesmo.
Pessoa dotada de grande habilidade política e diplomática, no passado ocupou alto cargo dentro de uma determinado ministério até que lhe puxam o tapete. Desde então sonha em voltar ao poder, julgando estar sendo preterido por pessoas muito menos capazes. Quando consegue percebe que as coisas não serão como ele almejava, por conta da improbidade que corre solta.
Segundo Paulo Rónai, Marcas é uma espécie de alter ego do autor e aqui ele parece fazer um desabafo sobre como não foi devidamente reconhecido e estimado por tantos feitos.
Histórico de leitura
24/08/2018
"A afluência dos postulantes obrigou a medicina a dividir-se em categorias: há o médico que escreve, o médico que professa, o médico político e o médico militante; quatro maneiras de ser médico, quatro seções já ocupadas. Quanto à quinta, a dos médicos que vendem remédios, há concorrência, e luta-se a golpes de anúncios infames nos muros de Paris."
"Nunca vi ninguém, mesmo incluindo os homens notáveis da época, cujo aspecto fosse mais impressionante do que o daquele homem."
Narrado em primeira em pessoa por um jovem estudante sem recursos que divide um quarto numa espécie de pensão e lá conhecem o misterioso Z. Marcas, homem que parece não combinar com aquele ambiente tão miserável. Ambos se tomam de curiosidade por ele, acabam travando amizade e a partir daí conheceremos seu passado por ele mesmo.
Pessoa dotada de grande habilidade política e diplomática, no passado ocupou alto cargo dentro de uma determinado ministério até que lhe puxam o tapete. Desde então sonha em voltar ao poder, julgando estar sendo preterido por pessoas muito menos capazes. Quando consegue percebe que as coisas não serão como ele almejava, por conta da improbidade que corre solta.
Segundo Paulo Rónai, Marcas é uma espécie de alter ego do autor e aqui ele parece fazer um desabafo sobre como não foi devidamente reconhecido e estimado por tantos feitos.
Histórico de leitura
24/08/2018
"A afluência dos postulantes obrigou a medicina a dividir-se em categorias: há o médico que escreve, o médico que professa, o médico político e o médico militante; quatro maneiras de ser médico, quatro seções já ocupadas. Quanto à quinta, a dos médicos que vendem remédios, há concorrência, e luta-se a golpes de anúncios infames nos muros de Paris."
"Nunca vi ninguém, mesmo incluindo os homens notáveis da época, cujo aspecto fosse mais impressionante do que o daquele homem."
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews