Père Goriot
Jean-Joachim Goriot is an elderly, retired pasta-maker who lives in the Masion Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. He’s Anastasie and Delphine’s father. Goriot was very successful in his trade, especially during the French…
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Eugène de Rastignac
Rastignac is a naïve, idealistic 22-year-old law student who lives in the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. Rastignac’s parents, aunt, two brothers (Henri and Gabriel), and two sisters (Laure and Agathe) live on…
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Vautrin
Vautrin is a 40-year-old resident at the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. Unknown to most other characters until the end of the novel, he’s really an expert criminal and escaped convict named Jacques…
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Madame la Vicomtesse de Beauséant
– The vicomtesse is Rastignac’s distant cousin. His aunt, Madame de Marcillac, introduces them. The vicomtesse is one of the richest and most famous aristocrats in Paris society; though she’s married, she…
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Madame Anastasie de Restaud
Anastasie is one of Goriot’s two daughters and the sister of Delphine, with whom she is locked in a petty social rivalry. She is a dark-eyed, curvy, yet dainty woman. She catches Rastignac…
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Madame Delphine de Nucingen
Delphine is Goriot’s second daughter and the sister of Anastasie de Restaud, with whom she is locked in a petty social rivalry. Delphine is married to Baron de Nucingen, who is…
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Madame Vauquer
Madame Vauquer is a widow who has run a Paris boarding house, the Maison Vauquer, for decades. At around 50 years old, Madame Vauquer is plump and pale, and she seems to match her shabby…
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Victorine Taillefer
Victorine is a young woman who lives in the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. Madame Couture is her guardian. Victorine’s mother died, and her wealthy father, Taillefer, refuses to acknowledge her; his…
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Mademoiselle Michonneau
Mademoiselle Michonneau is an elderly spinster who lives in the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. She is skeletally thin and wears a menacing expression. She appears to have a romantic understanding with Poiret…
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Bianchon
Bianchon is a medical student and friend of Rastignac’s who dines at Madame Vauquer’s boarding house, Rastignac’s residence. He believes that happiness lies within a person, and he isn’t tempted by Paris society…
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Madame la Comtesse de l’Ambermesnil
Madame de l’Ambermesnil is a 36-year-old widow who lives in the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house, for a brief time. She befriends Madame Vauquer but then thwarts the latter’s romantic intentions toward Goriot…
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Minor Characters
Madame Couture
Madame Couture is a widow who lives in the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. She is Victorine Taillefer’s guardian, a relative of the girl’s deceased mother. Madame Couture dotes on Victorine like her own daughter and, like Victorine, is a devout Catholic.
Poiret
Monsieur Poiret is an elderly boarder in the Maison Vauquer. He is shriveled and shaky-legged and looks as if he’s suffered in life. Poiret is friends with Mademoiselle Michonneau, and the two seem to have a romantic understanding. In conversation, he tends to just repeat what other people say.
Sylvie
Typically referred to as “fat Sylvie,” she is the cook at Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. Sylvie often gossips and complains.
Christophe
Christophe does odd jobs at Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. He attends Goriot’s funeral and is one of the only characters to speak kindly of the old man.
Monsieur de Restaud
Monsieur de Restaud is Anastasie’s husband. He tolerates Anastasie’s lover Maxime, but he doesn’t let Anastasie see her father, Goriot, whom he disdains.
Baron de Nucingen
The baron is Madame Delphine de Nucingen’s husband; he is a shrewd German banker and baron of the Holy Roman Empire. The baron and Delphine do not love each other, and he refuses to let her see Goriot.
Comte Maxime de Trailles
The comte is Anastasie’s lover; he’s a haughty, well-groomed young man with a fancy carriage. Anastasie’s husband, Monsieur de Restaud, knows about him and tolerates the affair. Maxime is addicted to gambling and accumulates huge debts.
De Marsay
De Marsay is Madame Delphine de Nucingen’s lover, who abandons her.
Marquis d’Ajuda-Pinto
The marquis is a wealthy and famous Portuguese nobleman with whom the Vicomtesse de Beauséant has been having an affair. He is engaged to a woman named Mademoiselle de Rochefide.
Taillefer
Taillefer is Victorine’s merciless father who disowns her in favor of leaving his estate to Victorine’s brother.
Madame de Marcillac
Madame de Marcillac is Rastignac’s aunt.
Gobseck
Gobseck is a Paris moneylender.
Madame la Duchesse de Langeais
The duchesse is a good friend of the Vicomtesse de Beauséant who delivers the news that the marquis is engaged to someone else.
Monsieur Gondureau
Gondureau is the police detective who brings about Vautrin’s arrest.
Mademoiselle de Rochefide
Mademoiselle de Rochefide is the Marquis de Ajuda-Pinto’s fiancée.
