The Degradation of Humanity in Balzac’s Père Goriot: Lessons for the Modern Age

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Balzac’s Père Goriot (1847) offers five timeless warnings for contemporary society:

1. The Tyranny of Consumerism: The novel’s depiction of greed (“Gold is a monster that corrupts all”) mirrors modern issues like credit card debt epidemics and corporate exploitation of labor in fast fashion industries;
2. Art’s Commodification: Goriot’s lament that “artworks became bargaining chips” parallels the $60 billion art market bubble, where works like Banksy’s self-destructing painting prioritize speculation over aesthetics;
3. Transactional Relationships: The relatives who exploit Goriot echo modern “LinkedIn networking” culture, where connections are measured by ROI rather than authenticity;
4. Vulnerability of the Marginalized: Goriot’s victimization as a lonely widower finds modern parallels in elder financial abuse cases, such as Japan’s “Granny Scam” targeting elderly cryptocurrency holders;
5. Moral Resistance: Goriot’s refusal to sell his collection (“My soul is not for sale”) resonates with modern whistleblowers like Edward Snowden, who sacrifice comfort for ethical principles.
   For instance, the novel’s auction scene, where artworks are stripped of their meaning, reflects Sotheby’s 2021 sale of a digital NFT artwork for $69 million—a transaction devoid of artistic engagement. Yet Balzac also offers hope: Goriot’s devotion to music and beauty prefigures today’s slow living movement, advocating mindfulness over materialism.