A Harlot High and Low - Part Three - The Difficulty in Committing Suicide in Prison - Part Four - A Singular Criminal Trial

[Deborah, Moderator]

This week's reading is from Charlie thru Disappointment. Pages 470 thru 539.

The last sentence: "'Look', he said to Jacques Collin, 'let's make an end! I can't wait to hear your prescription for curing the countess...'"

[Deborah, Moderator]

Our journey is almost over. Next week's reading is fairly short. We have schemes and counter schemes. Which one do you think will succeed?
This book reminds me very much of Bel Ami with all the corruption and false fronts, although a bit harder to keep track of all the characters.

Besides the question above, what purpose does giving the same character multiple names? Why would Balzac choose to do that?

And let the discussion begin.

[Frances, Moderator]

I have made it through this section and continue to find the huge numbers of characters, often with multiple aliases, quite confusing. There are also some bits of dialogue which I don't understand, and I must even confess to not being quite clear on Collin/Herrera/Vautrin's ultimate scheme-other than that he hopes to land some sort of position in the prison, presumably to consolidate his control on the underworld in some way.

Equally, I find the schemes of the society characters a challenge to follow and there seem to be almost the same degree of machinations within the aristocracy as within the criminal underworld-perhaps this is what this novel/series of novels is attempting to illustrate.

Despite the novels being advertised as stand-alone, I sense that not having read at least some of the preceding novels leaves us struggling to follow the very convoluted plot and characters.

I don't know if I will ever attempted Le Pere Goriot, which I understand is the best entry to La Comedie Humaine.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Frances wrote: "I have made it through this section and continue to find the huge numbers of characters, often with multiple aliases, quite confusing. There are also some bits of dialogue which I don't understand,..."

I agree the schemes in the aristocracy are as bad as the criminal. I really saw no difference between the two. I got used to the character names but found it irritating.