Character guide

Eugène de Rastignac

major

Also known as Rastignac, Eugène, M. de Rastignac, Chevalier de Rastignac

Ambitious law student from the provinces who lodges at the Maison Vauquer and seeks entry into Parisian high society.

Father Goriot

major

Also known as Goriot, Jean-Joachim Goriot, Old Father Goriot

Retired vermicelli maker who sacrifices everything for his two ungrateful daughters, living in poverty at the Maison Vauquer.

Vautrin

major

Also known as M. Vautrin, Jacques Collin, Trompe-la-Mort

Mysterious and manipulative boarder at the Maison Vauquer with a hidden criminal past as an escaped convict.

Delphine de Nucingen

major

Also known as Delphine, Delphine Goriot, Mme. de Nucingen, Baronne de Nucingen

Goriot's younger daughter, married to a wealthy but miserly baron, who becomes Rastignac's lover.

Anastasie de Restaud

supporting

Also known as Nasie, Comtesse de Restaud, Mme. de Restaud, Anastasie

Goriot's elder daughter, a countess trapped in a loveless marriage and burdened by debt.

Madame Vauquer

supporting

Also known as Mme. Vauquer, Vauquer, Mamma Vauquer

Greedy and gossipy proprietress of the Maison Vauquer boarding house.

Vicomtesse de Beauséant

supporting

Also known as Mme. de Beauséant, Beauséant, la Vicomtesse

Elegant aristocrat who mentors Rastignac in Parisian society and suffers a broken heart.

Victorine Taillefer

supporting

Also known as Mlle. Taillefer, Victorine, Mlle. Victorine

Shy, impoverished young woman living at the Maison Vauquer, secretly loved by Rastignac.

Poiret

supporting

Also known as M. Poiret, old Poiret

Elderly, timid boarder at the Maison Vauquer who becomes an accomplice to Michonneau.

Mademoiselle Michonneau

supporting

Also known as Mlle. Michonneau, Michonneau

Suspicious, spinsterish boarder who spies on Vautrin for the police.

Horace Bianchon

supporting

Also known as Bianchon, M. Bianchon, young Bianchon

Kind-hearted medical student and Rastignac's friend who helps care for Goriot.

Maxime de Trailles

supporting

Also known as M. le Comte Maxime de Trailles, de Trailles, Maxime

Dashing but dissolute aristocrat and Anastasie's lover who drains her finances.

Sylvie

minor

Also known as the portly Sylvie

Sturdy, hardworking cook and maid at the Maison Vauquer.

Christophe

minor

Loyal manservant at the Maison Vauquer who runs errands for the boarders.

Madame Couture

minor

Also known as Mme. Couture, Couture

Widowed lady who boards at the Maison Vauquer and acts as Victorine's guardian.

Baron de Nucingen

supporting

Also known as M. de Nucingen, Nucingen, Baron de Nucingen

Wealthy but miserly Alsatian banker married to Delphine.

Comte de Restaud

supporting

Also known as M. de Restaud, Restaud, the Comte de Restaud

Proud, aristocratic husband of Anastasie who discovers her affair.

Derville

minor

Also known as M. Derville

Honest lawyer who handles legal affairs for several characters including Goriot.

Gondureau

minor

Also known as M. Gondureau

Police detective who recruits Michonneau to expose Vautrin's true identity.

Marquis d'Ajuda-Pinto

minor

Also known as d'Ajuda, Pinto, M. d'Ajuda

Portuguese nobleman who abandons the Vicomtesse de Beauséant for a wealthy marriage.

Duchesse de Langeais

minor

Also known as Mme. de Langeais, de Langeais, la Duchesse

Haughty aristocrat and friend of the Vicomtesse who gossips about society.

Comtesse de l'Ambermesnil

minor

Also known as Mme. de l'Ambermesnil

Former name used by Madame Vauquer to claim a noble past.

Thérèse

minor

Personal maid to the Vicomtesse de Beauséant.

Laure de Rastignac

minor

Also known as Laure, Rastignac

Eugène's younger sister who writes to him about family finances.

Gobseck

minor

Also known as old Gobseck, Daddy Gobseck

Moneylender who deals with Anastasie's desperate financial affairs.

Maréchale Carigliano

minor

Also known as Duchesse de Carigliano, de Carigliano

Fashionable society hostess who invites Rastignac to her parties.

Colonel Franchessini

minor

Also known as Count Franchessini, the Count

Italian colonel who fights a duel with Rastignac over a perceived insult.

Claire de Bourgogne

minor

Also known as Claire

Historical figure briefly mentioned in the context of the Beauséant family.

Buneaud

minor

Also known as the Buneaud

Rival boarding house keeper mentioned by Madame Vauquer.

Dame Morin

minor

Also known as Morin

Woman who helped raise Goriot's daughters after their mother died.

Fifine

minor

Servant girl at the Maison Vauquer mentioned in passing.

Maurice

minor

Servant in the Restaud household.

Antoinette

minor

Maid at the Beauséant residence.

Agathe

minor

Briefly mentioned character in the boarding house.

General de Montriveau

minor

Aristocrat mentioned in society gossip at the Beauséant salon.

De Marsay

minor

Also known as M. de Marsay

Fashionable young man about town in Parisian society.

Mademoiselle de Rochefide

minor

Also known as Mlle. de Rochefide

Young woman mentioned in the context of aristocratic marriages.

Monsieur de Beauséant

minor

Also known as M. de Beauséant

Husband of the Vicomtesse, largely absent from the narrative.

Papa Doliban

minor

Also known as papa, Papa

Nickname for an old man in Goriot's past, briefly referenced.

Frédéric

minor

Also known as M. Frédéric

Minor character mentioned in the boarding house context.