A Harlot High and Low - Part Three - The Examining Magistrate is Worried through In Which the Dandy and the Poet are Reunited

[Deborah, Moderator]

This week's reading is from The Examining Magistrate is Worried thru In Which the Dandy and the Poet are Reunited. Pages 323 thru 400.

Last sentence: "From the Conciergerie, this 15th May, 1830, Lucien d Rubempre

[Deborah, Moderator]

Lucien and Carlos have been arrested and interrogated. Carlos is, once again, scheming to get them out of jail. Lucien answers questions honestly which makes him a guilty man of fraternizing with a felon. Society tries to get Lucien's freedom. Karma is definitely at play.

1. Which will win - society or truth?

2. Do you think Carlos can scheme his way out? Why?

3. How does Esther's death and will affect the situation?

[Silver]

It is so frustrating all the women who are devoted to Lucian and struggling to try and set him free either because of their love and devotion to him or because of their own selfish reasons, not wanting their reputations to be smirched by associating with a criminal.

And I cannot help but to wonder, what is it with Lucian? How do so many women become so hopelessly devoted to him? Is it really purely because he is young and handsome? For he has absolutely no character whatsoever.

I am banking on society winning out over truth because I think that is a more realistic reflection of the way in which the world works. Seeing Lucian and particularly Carlos finally get what they ultimately deserve would be self-satisfying, but I don't think it is very likely.

Balzac is criticizing and scrutinizing French society, and the world he has created (or the world as he sees it) is one in which corruption does seem to be the ruling power and those that are not in the game are used as pawns and trampled all over and tossed to the wayside. I do not think there is much hope or room for truth in this world, but the corruption is so pervasive that it will always come out on top.

I do not predict any happy outcomes occurring. The only good thing is that hopefully now whatever happens, the Grandlieu's will not consent to allow Lucian to marry their daughter, even if he is proven innocent.

I have to admit that I am glad that Lucian decided to kill himself, (and frankly I hope that he does go through with it, and nothing comes up to save him, or change his mind) for though maybe it will allow him to escape justice, I was so annoyed at the thought of him being exonerated and simply resuming his role back within the graces of society again.

[Amy]

This has been my favorite part of the book. Carlos is so devious I'm sure he can talk his way out of it, but I think Lucien won't be so lucky. I'm also glad he decided to kill himself. He has no will of his own. It disgusted me that he allowed the woman he loves to be prostituted for his sake. If Esther died for him, it's only fitting that he die for her. I was glad the Grandlieus turned him away.

[Deborah, Moderator]

I too hope Lucien goes through with the suicide.

[Linda]

I apologize to the group for falling so behind in this book, I'm still in the middle of week 3. I have been struggling to keep track of the characters and such and so it has been the last thing I want to try concentrating on at the end of the day. Consequently the book has found its way to the bottom of my currently reading pile. I do hope to finish at some point, though it might not be in time to participate fully in the current discussions.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Linda wrote: "I apologize to the group for falling so behind in this book, I'm still in the middle of week 3. I have been struggling to keep track of the characters and such and so it has been the last thing I w..."

Linda, first stick with it. It gets easier. Next don't worry about being late. The threads will be open and ready when you are.

[Linda]

Thanks Deborah, that is good to hear. I'm still carrying it around with me every day. :)

[Frances, Moderator]

I started this section thinking I might give up on the book, particularly as it started with a long discussion of how the Magistrate and courts worked and then got somewhat bogged down in a new set of characters. Then suddenly I was swept up in the machinations of Collin and Asia against those of the examining Magistrate, and the subtle ways that people communicated with each other was absolutely exquisite-my favourite being

'...You have displayed skill of an order which makes it impossible that one should ever dispense of an examining magistrate like yourself...'
If Monsieur de Granville had said to Camusot: 'You will be an examining magistrate all your life!...' he could hardly have been more explicit than he was in this apparent compliment. Camusot felt his blood run cold.'

This being a 19th century French novel, I'm pretty sure that society will triumph over truth, particularly seeing how Mme de Serisy has completely gotten away with destroying evidence in front of witnesses.

I'm not sure what I think Lucien deserves-partly as I don't understand Collin's motives in pushing him to the highest rung of society-whether he has acted like an accomplice or like a pawn throughout.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Still working through this section, even though I admit I skipped the description of the court and police procedures. When I was younger, I felt I had to read every word of any book, but now I'm more flexible.