Vautrin et le mythe balzacien

In the mythical world created by Balzac, Vautrin (Illusions perdues and Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes) personifies crime, evil, and the upwardly mobile proletariat. As a symbol of crime, he systematically opposes society and seeks to infiltrate and dominate it and to destroy its most cherished values. As evil, he borrows several bodies – including that of a young, ambitious, desperate nobleman, whom he seduces, corrupts, manipulates like a puppet, and even loves; but who is eventually destroyed, causing Vautrin to suffer intensely. As an educated proletariat, he quickly seizes the opportunity to become, at last, a valuable and honored ally of a society that desperately needs him. In return, he professes repentance for his life of crime. He smiles with satisfaction, but the smile, in reality, belongs to Satan. (RLM)