_{Excerpt from the novel “Le Père Goriot” by Honoré de Balzac from chapter 2: “Entry into Society”}

_{Publication date: 1835}

_{Context of the action: Vautrin has taken Rastignac under his “protection”}

_{This novel belongs to the literary movement of realism}

_{Key points of the passage:}

_{-Vautrin reviews all the ways to make money (marriage for interest, studies...), but especially through corruption}

_{-In the course of the passage, V outlines the portrait of Rastignac by revealing his vices (taste for luxury) or at least the temptations he will face. (It is actually Vautrin's indirect self-portrait; V is describing himself indirectly)}

_{Questions to consider:}

_{-We will see how appearances can be deceptive in this passage: under the advice of a protector, what are the courses of action recommended by Vautrin?}

_{-How does Vautrin seek to convince Rastignac?}

_{-In what way does Vautrin try to make Rastignac a corrupted brother?}

_{-In what way does Vautrin suggest that Rastignac undertake a conquest in a degraded manner?}

_{(Do not forget to read the text once the issue has been stated)}???

_{Characteristics of Vautrin:}

• _{Enigmatic identity}
• _{Nickname: Trompe la Mort}
• _{Obsessed with Money (lexical field of money in the text)}
• _{Vautrin has vast knowledge (he knows everything)}
• _Swindler
• _{Temptor/manipulator}
• _{Aggressive and violent discourse --> colloquial language}
• _{Impressive in appearance}
• _{Mentor (guide)}
• _{He has a humanistic and pessimistic vision}
• _{He wants to convert (change Rastignac's ideas)}
• _Vicious
• _{Influences Rastignac}

_{Through this excerpt, Vautrin presents the world to Rastignac as a realm of struggle. He presents himself as a mentor (guide) who, through his experience, can help him break through and succeed in society. Rastignac is also presented as an alter ego.}

_{Procedures to emphasize:}

_{-Aphorisms “honesty is useless”? present as a general truth}

_{-Comparisons “like a plague; like a snake"}

_{-Animalizations “like spiders” (humans are compared to spiders)}

_{-Rhetorical procedures: comparisons; a specific form of language to give more liveliness. / speech delivered by a speaker intended to persuade an audience}

_{-Lexical fields of war and money}

_{-“to scent” --> dehumanization repeated 2x}