# Suicide explained — A Daughter of Eve

> Chapter companion for A Daughter of Eve by Honoré de Balzac.

## What happens

Raoul Nathan, now a rising political figure, is secretly entangled with both the actress Florine and the Countess Marie de Vandenesse. As his debts mount and his false friends—du Tillet, Massol, and others—manipulate him for their own ends, he plunges deeper into financial ruin. Marie, away in the country, sustains their passion through letters, unaware of his precarious situation. The chapter sets the stage for Nathan's impending crisis.

## Themes in this chapter

### Money and Power

Nathan's financial ruin is orchestrated by du Tillet and Massol, who use the newspaper as a tool for political and economic gain.

### Deception and Appearance

Nathan deceives both Florine and Marie, while his false friends mask their betrayal with flattery and support.

### Passion vs. Duty

Marie's romantic idealization of Nathan conflicts with her marital duties, while Nathan's ambition pulls him away from genuine love.

## Character check-ins

### Raoul Nathan

Struggling with debt and political ambition, he maintains a double life with Florine and Marie, unaware of the conspiracy against him.

### Florine

Returns to Nathan with savings, which he spends on lavish living; she remains devoted but ignorant of his true financial state.

### Marie de Vandenesse

Away in the country, she corresponds passionately with Nathan, idealizing him as a genius and lover.

### Comte Félix de Vandenesse

Warns his wife about Nathan's precarious position, revealing his political insight and concern for her.

### Du Tillet

A banker and false friend, he advances money to Nathan while plotting to seize control of the newspaper.

### Massol

A barrister and partner in the paper, he secretly sides with du Tillet, awaiting a government post.

### Rastignac

Leans on Nathan politically while maneuvering behind the scenes with du Tillet and Nucingen.

### Delphine de Nucingen

Receives Nathan socially, partly due to his connection with Marie de Vandenesse.

## Key lines

> She saw in Raoul one of the finest intellects of the day, a delicately-strung and unappreciated heart, which in its unstained purity was worthy of adoration.

Marie idealized Nathan as a brilliant but misunderstood genius, pure and deserving of her devotion.

_Highlights Marie's romantic delusion about Nathan's character._

> Florine, far from trying to impose her will, would let herself be taken up and put down with the good-natured indifference of a cat, which always falls on its feet and walks off, shaking its ears.

Florine accepted Nathan's erratic behavior with easygoing resilience, unlike the demanding Countess.

_Contrasts Florine's practicality with Marie's emotional intensity._

> Du Tillet had advanced a hundred thousand francs. The money given by Florine, the third part of his original capital, had gone in government dues and in the expenses of starting the paper, which were enormous.

Nathan's debts mounted as du Tillet's loan and Florine's savings were consumed by the newspaper's startup costs.

_Illustrates Nathan's financial mismanagement and dependence on others._

> Thus was Raoul jockeyed by both the banker and the barrister, who took a huge delight in seeing him lord it at the office, pocketing all the gains, as well as the less substantial dues of vanity and the like.

Du Tillet and Massol secretly manipulated Nathan, letting him enjoy the illusion of power while they prepared to take over.

_Reveals the conspiracy against Nathan and his blindness to it._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_daughter_of_eve_se/chapters/vii-suicide
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_daughter_of_eve_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_daughter_of_eve_se/chapters