Pere Goriot by Honoré de Balzac, is a compelling and interesting book. Honoré de Balzac creates an insightful look into partisan society. The book manages to illustrate both the cruelty and the hope that exist within its pages. I interpreted it to be a coming of age story. Eugéne de Rastignac begins the story as a hopeful young student with an optimistic outlook into society. By the end of the book the innocence that once covered his eyes is gone and left behind is the cruel reality that is society. Eugéne de Rastignac is not the only character that sees life in a new light, the nurturing Pere Goriot also goes through a dramatic change. Through the whole book he maintains his undying love and would give them anything he has, until nothing remains. He represents the ultimate father, but near the end of his life he begins to see things clearly. After his daughters got married their husbands were ashamed of him and he was sent away from their lives. He finally realizes that his daughters are ungrateful and that he has caused his own untimely demise by giving all that he ever had to his daughters. He criticizes society for the fact that women are kept in ignorance. They are not being taught about society and marriage. Even at the end of his life the ultimate father tries to understand why his daughters are not there for him in his time of need. Goriot's death is a new beginning for Eugéne, he is now free to make his own choices. At the end of the book Eugéne returns to have dinner with Goriot's daughter Madame de Nucingen, but he returns with his eyes open to the brutality that exists in a society that he once wanted so badly to be a part of.
