Introduction to Gao Laotou

Author: Honoré de Balzac is one of the greatest French writers. He not only occupies a lofty position in the history of French literature, but also is an influential novelist in the history of world literature.

Balzac 1799 was born in Tours in the south of Paris on May 20th. His father was a farmer when he was born, but later, he went to the city and became a civil servant. His mother comes from a family of weavers. Balzac was sent to the countryside for foster care when he was very young. He stayed at school from primary school to middle school and rarely saw his family, so he rarely enjoyed the warmth of his family when he was a child. 1816-1819 According to his parents' arrangement, he went to Paris to study law. During this period, he also worked as an intern or a clerk in an agent ad litem or notary office.

Balzac loves literature and has no intention to engage in legal work, so he managed to attend a liberal arts class when studying law and obtained a bachelor's degree in literature. 19 19 He decided to engage in literary creation. However, it was opposed by the family. Because he made up his mind, his family couldn't beat him, and only promised him two years to test his literary talent. With the limited funds given by his family, he rented an attic in the slums of Paris and buried himself in writing. Balzac's first work is Cromwell, a poetic tragedy in five acts. Unexpectedly, he failed. But he didn't give up. He started writing supernatural novels with a few friends under a pseudonym, and wrote more than 10 before and after, which didn't bring him much economic benefits. At this time, he had to give up the idea of creation for a while and wanted to try his luck in the business world. Starting from 1825, he borrowed money to publish popular editions of classic writers and set up a printing factory. In less than two years, he has been heavily in debt, which has dragged down his life.

1828, Balzac returned to literary creation. 1829, he published his first novel "Double Swing" under his real name. This is his first serious literary work. As soon as the novel was published, it immediately attracted the attention of readers, and soon he published an essay "The Physiology of Marriage". From then on, Balzac became famous and strode to the French literary world.

During the period from 18 19 to 1829 10, Balzac experienced arduous exploration, profound changes in his thoughts and artistic maturity. Balzac entered the heyday of his creation. From 1829 to 1848, in less than 20 years, he actually wrote more than 90 novels. It is said that Gao Laotou was written by him for three days and nights. He badly needed money to pay off his debts, which was one of the driving forces for his original hard writing, but more importantly, he had creative passion and lofty goals, and he wanted to set up a monument in the history of literature.

Balzac worked too hard and died in Paris on August 8, 850. He only lived 5 1 year.

This story happened in 18 19. In the Latin quarter of Paris, there is an old, peeling room with meals-Fugai apartment, which was opened by an old woman named Fugai. The house is lifeless, emitting a closed, moldy and sour smell, and the walls are full of prison breath. There are seven tenants living here. They are bankrupt businessman Gao Leo, poor college student Rasty Nie, Fu Tuoling nicknamed "Ghost Fool", old maid Mi Xunuo, girl abandoned by her father Victoria Fan, old lady Gu whose husband died and retired civil servant Lao Bo Loy.

Old man Gaurio is 69 years old. Run flour business in his early years. This business ended in 18 13. When he first moved to Fugai apartment, he lived in the best room on the second floor and paid 1200 francs a year for room and board. He is "well stocked, well dressed and well dressed". 18 Dutch muslin shirt, No.2, known as the admiration of Mrs. Vogue. Even the snuff bottle is made of gold. Every morning, he asks the barber to wash his hair and powder him. People call him Mr. Gaurio. Even vogel's mother played his mind. She is forty-eight years old, but she says she is thirty-nine. She bought clothes and hats, armed to the teeth, and dressed like "the signboard of a braised beef restaurant". He wants to marry Gaurio, sell his apartment, become a prominent wife in this area, go to the theater, sit in a box and do some charity work ... in short, she dreams of becoming a sweet ordinary citizen.

However, Lao Gaoman put all his love on his two married daughters and was not seduced by "Lady of Fashion". At the end of the second year, Gaurio asked to move to the third floor, and the accommodation fee was reduced to 900 francs per year. People are talking about the deterioration of his house. Everyone regards him as "the most mysterious figure produced by evil, shameless and imbecility." Fu Gai's mother died, too. She no longer calls him Mr., but is old and rambling.

In the third year, Gaurio asked to move to the fourth floor, and the monthly room rate was reduced to 45 francs. He gave up snuff and sent a barber to stop dusting his head. Jin Gangzuan, the gold cigarette case, the gold chain and other decorations are all gone. And no matter winter or summer, I only wear a chestnut tweed coat and gray wool pants. He is getting thinner and thinner, and his calves are flat; I don't know how many wrinkles have appeared on my once obese face because of contentment; Grooved forehead, prominent gum bone, aging, rickety, and bloodless face. At first, his daughter came frequently, but then she seldom came. He was on pins and needles when people asked him why his daughter didn't come to see him. People make fun of him and even take it out on him.

Rasty Nie, another tenant of Fugai Apartment, is a college student who came to Paris from other provinces and rural areas to study law. She has white skin, black hair and blue eyes. His manners, manners and posture all show that he is a big boy. Usually he only wears an old coat and a thick vest; The crappy old black tie is so-so, like ordinary college students; Pants and clothes are almost the same, and boots have been changed. He is an ambitious young man. The poverty of his family and the stimulation of the luxurious life in Paris have strengthened his "desire for power and desire to get ahead". At first, he studied unconsciously. Later, he found that women have a great influence on social life, and suddenly he wanted to join the upper class, "conquering several women who can be his backstage." Through the introduction of his great-aunt, he climbed to the viscount de Bucylon, a rich relative, and met the Countess Resto in this cousin's house. When he returned to Fugai apartment, he told Lao Gaoman about it. I didn't expect this beautiful countess to be the oldest daughter.

The next day, he went to the Countess Reston's house. He deliberately mentioned that Viscount Busion was his relative, which is why he was warmly welcomed. However, when he said that he lived with Lao Gaoman, it caused displeasure to the count and his wife. They sent him out coldly.

Rasty Nie went to his cousin, Viscount Busion's house for advice with confusion. It happened that the viscount was abandoned by her lover, the Marquis de Alku, a Portuguese aristocrat, and she was in a bad mood. He suddenly asked Rasty Nie, "Can you kill for me?" Rasty's said; "Kill both." After listening to the ambitious answer from the college student, the viscount couldn't help being very concerned about him. Rasty Nie asked his cousin to explain to him: Why did he offend Mr. and Mrs. Ors and Mr. Reston when he said his old name? The viscount told him the story of Lao Gaoman and his daughter.

Lao Gaoman has two daughters, and he likes them very much. But now my daughter hardly recognizes her father. Lao Gaoman lost his wife in his early years, and he took care of his daughter to grow up. When his daughter reached marriageable age, he shared all his property with them as a dowry so that her daughter could get a good marriage. The eldest daughter was too vain to marry the noble Lester; The second daughter loves money and marries banker Niu Qingen. Old man Gao thought that his daughter married someone, which meant that he had two families. Can get the respect and support of my daughter and son-in-law. Who knows that in less than two years, the son-in-law regarded him as a "nuisance" and drove him out of the house. The two daughters only went to their father when they needed money and things, but now Laogaoman has no money ... After listening to her cousin's introduction, Rasty Nie shed tears of sympathy for Laogaoman.

Viscount Busion told Rasty that "society is mean and cruel". Ask him to "answer blows with blows" to deal with this society. She said, "The more heartless you are, the higher you will rise. If you hit people mercilessly, people will be afraid of you. " At the same time, she also told Rasty that if he wants to get ahead in Parisian society, he must be favored by women. If "no woman cares, he is worthless here, and this woman must be young, rich and beautiful." She suggested that Rasty could seduce Gao Laotou's second daughter, but Feina. She said, "That beautiful lady can be your cover. Once she takes you seriously, all the women will flock to chase you. " Finally, she told Rasty to be good at cheating. "If you have any real feelings, you must hide them like a treasure." Therefore, heartlessness, womanizing and fraud are the magic weapons that the viscount told him to be promoted in Paris society.

The viscount's words taught Rasty the first lesson in life. When he came out of the viscount's house, he "felt the joy of rising in Paris and finding a way out." At the same time, he "saw the true nature of society: law and morality have no effect on the rich, and property is the golden rule." In order to integrate into the upper class, he wrote letters to his mother and two sisters. Ask them to sell the jewels and send them to him 1200 francs, because he wants to use the money to buy clothes. In his letter, he threatened to commit suicide if he didn't get the money.

Fu Tuoleng, another tenant of Fugai Apartment, is a criminal fugitive rescued by the world, nicknamed "Ghost Fudge". He is about forty years old and has broad shoulders. The chest is developed, the muscles are bursting, the square hands are big and thick, and clusters of tea-red thick hair are born in the middle of the fingers. He knows a lot, has a wide range of experience, and has a playful temper. He saw Rasty's desire to get rich and climb up. He told Rasty's Nie that it is not feasible to take the upright road by personal efforts in Parisian society. "In this crowd, if you don't go in like a cannonball, you have to go in like a plague. Innocence and honesty are useless. " He proposed a plan to Rasty that would make him happy in six months. This is asking him to love the tenant, miss Victoria. Because she is the abandoned daughter of millionaire Tai Caliso Van. Tai Caliso has only one child. Futuoleng wants to provoke one of his friends to duel with Fan's son and kill him; Tai Caliso, who has no inheritance, must come back and admit his daughter, so that Rasty Nie can become the son-in-law of a millionaire; After the job is done, Rasty Nie only needs to give him 200,000 francs as a reward, and he will take the money to run a plantation in the United States, and then earn millions of dollars from it, so that his life is as happy as the little emperor. Rasty Nie was both afraid and hesitant about this plan, so Votoring pointed out to him: "What I am proposing to you now is just different from what you will do in the future."

Rasty Nie accompanied the viscount to the theater to play poker, and met the second daughter of Gao Laotou, Nai Feina. She has blonde hair, charming voice and slim figure, as light as a swallow. When he came back, he told Lao Gaoman about it. Hearing the news of his daughter, Lao Gaoman listened as if he were listening to "the imperial edict of God". Then, he said happily, "If she likes you, I'd like to meet you, too." He only complains that his son-in-law is not good and his daughter is filial. He said, "If a man makes my little Daphne happy and gives her true love, then I can wipe the boots, send letters and run errands for that man ..."

The next day, Rasty visited Daphne. She just owed a debt, and her husband refused to pay it back. She was very upset. She asked Rasty Nie to go to the casino to help her gamble. As a result, Rusty was lucky and won 7,000 francs. But Finner paid off his debts with the money he won.

Rasty was happy and annoyed when she came out of Daphne's house. Happily, he hooked up with the most beautiful and romantic woman in Paris. To his annoyance, Fu Tuoleng taught him to make a fortune, and all his plans were overturned. When the old man saw that Rasty liked Finn, he came out to pimp his daughter. He privately rented a house in the street, where he met Rasty Nie and Danfina, and bought a gold watch for Rasty Nie in the name of Danfina.

At the same time, Fu Tuoleng sent someone to kill Tai Caliso's only son. Tye sent someone to pick up Miss Victoria. What about Daphne, or Miss Victoria? Rasty's thoughts fluctuated. Finally, he chose Danfina, because he thought that "there is no sin in such a combination, and nothing can make the strictest Taoist frown".

Miss Mi Xunuo, the tenant, is as thin as a bone, with a shriveled face and a little lost. The shrill voice is like a temporary cockroach in the jungle in winter. She accepted the task of detective, spying on the identity of Fu Tuoleng. One day, she turned over Fu Tuoleng, who had been drugged, and found that he had the mark of a prisoner. It turned out that Fu Tuoleng was a criminal fugitive, so he was arrested.

But Feiner had a quarrel with her husband and came to see Lao Gaoman. She told her father that the banker offered her a quid pro quo: he could let his wife freely associate with Rasty Nie, but she could not ask him for dowry money. Lao Gaoman wants his daughter and can't accept this condition. He said, "Money is life. With money, everything is there. " The little girl's career is not finished yet. Mrs. Reston, the eldest daughter, came to see Laogao Man again. She asked her father to provide 12,000 francs to save her lover from the danger of imprisonment. This is an old man without money. He just spent the money to rent a house for Dafina. Therefore, the sisters kept their mouths shut in front of their father. Old Gao Man is helpless and feels very sad and painful. He cried hysterically, and he could do nothing but steal, rob, kill and sell young men.

Stimulated by this, Lao Gaoman fell ill with a stroke. Then there was a cerebral hemorrhage. However, during Gao's illness, neither of the sisters visited him. However, Fenna is worried that she is about to attend the long-awaited ball at Viscount Busion's house. Mrs. Resto came once, but not to visit her father's illness, but she owed the tailor a fixed amount of 1000 francs and asked her father to pay the fee. Lao Gaoman had to sell his tableware, silver earrings and mortgage annuity.

Viscount Busion's family held a grand ball, and the princess, Sir Alex Ferguson and aristocratic families all came forward to attend. The lights on more than 500 carriages are shining brightly around. The living room is resplendent and magnificent, "the band sent out one sentence after another of music, which permeated under the brilliant zenith, but all this luxury became desolate in the viscount's heart, which was her last appearance to bid farewell to the aristocratic society in Paris. She learned that her lover Marquis Alku had been approved by the emperor to marry a banker. She told Rasty Nie to go to Alku to retrieve all the love letters, and then burned them with tears in her eyes. Because of this, she sees through the world of mortals, and after the dance, she will hide in the countryside of Norman.

Rasty's cousin got into a carriage and left Paris. When he returned to Fugai apartment, he felt that "his education was over" and that he was "in hell and he had to stay".

Lao Gaoman is in critical condition. Before he died, he wanted to see his daughter again. However, the two daughters could not come. Mrs. Resto and her husband are not angry; But Feiner said dancing at night would catch a cold. The old man was in tears, and then he realized that his relationship with his daughter was based on money. He was respected and loved by his daughter when he was rich. The money is gone, and it is thrown into the street like a lemon shell. He once shouted hysterically: "society and the world are all centered on the father's way;" Isn't it upside down that the daughter doesn't love her father? "Finally, Mrs Reston came, but my father died.

When Lao Gaoman went to the funeral, neither his daughter nor his son-in-law went to the funeral. After the coffin, only two empty cars with Jue Wei were sent. The coffin was bought cheaply by medical college student Pi An Xun from the hospital, and the funeral expenses were paid by Rasty Nie who sold the gold watch. Nobody attended the whole funeral. When Rasty Nie was lying in an old coffin, he became sad. He looked at the grave and buried the last tear of his young man. Then, he looked at the lights on both sides of the Seine River. He said with extraordinary spirit, "Now let's fight together!" " "In order to show his challenge to the society, he went to the banker's wife Danfina's house for dinner at night.