The story "The Thirty-Year-Old Woman" in its final version was first published in 1842 in the third volume of the first edition of The Human Comedy. Releasing a new edition of this story in 1844, Balzac made only minor changes to it: he lengthened the action of the work by two years (until 1844) and, in accordance with this, changed the date of its creation (instead of "1828-1842" - "1828 -1844).

This date testifies to the writer's long work on the story, which is a combination of several independent stories written and published by Balzac in 1831-1834 ("Date", "Thirty-year-old woman", "The Finger of God", "Atonement" and others). Some of them were published in various Parisian magazines, others in the second and third editions of Scenes from a Private Life.

All these stories were first collected together in the fourth volume of the third edition of "Scenes of a Private Life" (1834-1835), where they were placed by Balzac under the general title "The Same Story". Subsequently reworking (for the first edition of The Human Comedy) ) this cycle of stories into the story The Thirty-Year-Old Woman, Balzac unified the names actors, changed, if necessary, the time of action in the constituent parts of the work, divided it into six chapters and gave them their current names.

(c) From comments by E. Gunst

Initially, the novel “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman” was not even a novel. Balzac wrote six separate stories, but then decided to combine them into a single work. The text was practically not subjected to processing, only the names of the main characters were replaced with Julie. This is the reason why some researchers observe a lack of integrity in terms of the central image and the development of the plot.

In general, the creation of the work took a solid time period for Honore - 5 years, from 1829 to 1834. Upon completion, "The Thirty-Year-Old Woman" took pride of place in the main work of the writer "The Human Comedy", adding to the bright palette of "Scenes of Private Life".

The novel is a vivid demonstration of the application of the original Balzac method - analytical realism. It involves “a deep, systematic study of modern life and its comprehension at the level general patterns human nature, historical time and social being”.

There are expressions "Balzac's age" or "a woman of Balzac's age". So how old is that? So, these expressions appeared precisely thanks to the novel "The Thirty-Year-Old Woman". And the correct answer will be - the Balzac age of a woman - the age of over 30 years. You can also answer that women of Balzac age are ladies who are 30-40 years old.

Honore de Balzac

thirty year old woman

Dedicated to Louis Boulanger, painter.

I. First mistakes

At the beginning of April, 1813, it was a Sunday morning that promised a wonderful day. On such a day, for the first time since the winter weather, Parisians see dry pavements and a cloudless sky. Around noon, a graceful cabriolet, drawn by a pair of frisky horses, turned off the Calle Castiglione into the Calle Rivoli and stopped behind a line of carriages, at a gate recently erected near the Feglianov site. This light carriage was ruled by a man whose face bore the stamp of worries and illness; gray hair, already sparse on the crown, shimmering with yellowness, aged him ahead of time; he threw the bridle to the footman on horseback, who was accompanying the carriage, and got down to help down a pretty girl, who immediately attracted the attention of idle spectators. The girl, stepping on the edge of the carriage, threw her arms around the neck of her companion, and he carried her to the sidewalk so carefully that he did not even wrinkle the trim on her green rep dress. A lover would not have shown such care. The stranger was obviously the girl's father; without thanking him, she casually took him by the arm and impetuously drew him into the garden. The old man noticed with what admiration the young people looked at his daughter, and the sadness that darkened his face disappeared for a moment. He smiled, although he had long since entered the age when he had to be content with the mere illusory joys of vanity.

Everyone thinks that you are my wife, - he whispered in the girl's ear and, straightening up, walked even more slowly, which led her to despair.

He, apparently, was proud of his daughter, and he, perhaps even more than hers, was amused by the glances of men, stealthily gliding over her legs in dark brown prunel shoes, at her fragile figure, which was fitted by an elegant dress with an insert, and at her fresh neck. , protruding from the embroidered collar. The girl's step was swift, the frills of her dress flew up every now and then, for a moment showing the rounded line of a chiseled leg in an openwork silk stocking. And more than one dandy overtook this couple to admire the girl, to once again look at the young face in the frame of swept dark curls; it seemed even whiter, even rosier in the reflections of the pink satin with which her fashionable bonnet was lined, and partly from that passionate impatience that breathed all the features of her charming face. Sweet slyness enlivened her beautiful black eyes - eyes with an almond-shaped slit and beautifully arched eyebrows, overshadowed by long eyelashes and shining with a wet sheen. Life and youth flaunted their treasures, as if embodied in this wayward face and in this camp, so slender, despite the belt tied in the then fashion under the very chest. The girl, not paying attention to the fans, looked with some anxiety at the Tuileries Palace - of course, she was so irresistibly attracted to him. It was a quarter to twelve. The hour was early, but a multitude of women, seeking to dazzle everyone with their dresses, were already returning from the palace, turning around every now and then with a displeased look, as if they regretted that they were late, that they would not be able to enjoy the spectacle that they so wanted to see. The beautiful stranger picked up on the fly several remarks, dropped with annoyance by the dressed-up ladies, and for some reason they greatly excited her. The old man followed with a penetrating rather than mocking gaze the way the expression of fear and impatience was replaced on the pretty face of his daughter, and, perhaps, even watched her too intently: hidden paternal anxiety was evident in this.

That was the thirteenth Sunday in 1813. A day later, Napoleon set off on that fatal campaign, during which he was destined to lose Bessieres, and after him - Duroc, win the memorable battles of Lutzen and Bautzen, see that he was betrayed by Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Bernadotte, and stubbornly defend himself in a cruel battle near Leipzig. The brilliant parade under the command of the emperor was destined to be the last in a series of parades that had so long delighted Parisians and foreigners. The old guard in last time I was going to show the art of maneuvers, the magnificence and accuracy of which sometimes amazed even the giant himself, who was preparing in those days for a duel with Europe. A smart and curious crowd was attracted to the Tuileries by a sad feeling. Everyone seemed to foresee the future and, perhaps, foresaw that more than once the imagination would reproduce this whole picture in memory, when the heroic times of France would acquire, as it happened now, an almost legendary shade.

Well, come on, daddy! the girl said briskly, dragging the old man along with her. - Hear: beat the drums.

The troops are entering the Tuileries, he answered.

Or have already passed the ceremonial march! .. Everyone is already returning! she said in the tone of an offended child, and the old man smiled.

The parade will begin only at half past one, - he remarked, barely keeping up with his restless daughter.

If you saw the way the girl waved right hand, they would say that she helps herself to escape. Her little gloved hand crumpled impatiently into her handkerchief and looked like an oar cutting through the waves. The old man sometimes smiled, but sometimes his haggard face became gloomy and preoccupied. Out of love for this beautiful creature, he not only rejoiced in the present, but also feared the future. He seemed to be saying to himself: “She is happy today, will she always be happy?” Old people are generally inclined to reward the future of young people with their sorrows. Father and daughter entered under the peristyle of the pavilion, along which walkers scurry about, passing from the Tuileries Garden to Carousel Square, and here, at the pavilion, at that hour decorated with a fluttering tricolor flag, they heard the stern cry of sentries:

The passage is closed!

The girl stood on tiptoe, and she managed to catch a glimpse of only a crowd of smart women, located along the ancient marble arcade, from where the emperor was supposed to appear.

You see, father, we are late!

Her lips clenched sadly, it was clear that it was very important for her to be present at the parade.

Well, let's go back, Julie; You don't like crushes.

Let's stay daddy! At least I'll look at the emperor, otherwise if he dies on the campaign, I won't see him.

The old man shuddered at these words, full of selfishness; tears were heard in the girl's voice; he looked at her, and it seemed to him that tears glistened under her lowered eyelashes, caused not so much by annoyance as by those first sorrows, the secret of which it is not difficult to comprehend the old father. Suddenly Julie flared up, and an exclamation broke out of her chest, the meaning of which neither the guards nor the old man understood. An officer who ran to the palace stairs, hearing this exclamation, turned around with vivacity, went up to the garden fence, recognized the girl, for a moment obscured by the big bear hats of the grenadiers, and immediately canceled the order forbidding passage for her and her father, - an order that he himself gave; then, ignoring the murmur of the smart crowd besieging the arcade, he tenderly drew the beaming girl to him.

Everyone, for sure, heard the ironic expression “Balzac age”. In fact, it is not so comical and its source was not the domestic series with Menshova and Lada Dance, but the work “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman”, created by the legend of French romance Honore de Balzac.

“Thirty-year-old woman”: a summary of the work

With the main character, who will have to become the prototype of all the ladies of the “Balzac age”, we get acquainted in the heyday of her bright girlish beauty. Everyone around is fascinated by her snow-white skin with a fresh blush, thick dark curls, slender legs in leather shoes. But the gaze of the girl, her name is Julie, is fixed only on one thing - a young officer, Count Victor d'Aiglemont. Julie's first love

When his horse rears up, the girl lets out a heart-rending cry, which betrays her love. Julie is accompanied by her father. He tries to warn his daughter - there is nothing more behind Victor's beautiful appearance and ostentatious daring. However, the first love is not only blind, but also stubborn. The father is unable to interfere with the choice of his favorite. Soon, Count Victor becomes the husband of sixteen-year-old Julie.

“Julie belonged to the number of women who are born to be loved: joy seems to come from them”

Julie did not take long to be disappointed in her chosen one. Despite the fact that everyone around her was still crazy about Victor, she knew that he was only pathetic mediocrity. In addition to satisfying simple physical needs, the spouse did not need anything, and Julie needed spiritual intimacy.

“Don’t we meet people in the world whose complete insignificance is a mystery to those around them?”

But soon Julie meets Arthur Ormon, Lord Grenville. Despite the fact that Arthur is an Englishman, his passion is able to rekindle Julie's heart, hardened over the years of marriage. The unfortunate woman is torn between duty and personal happiness, but being unable to go against public morality, she breaks with her lover. From her husband, she gives birth to a daughter, Elena, and for some time is forgotten by motherhood. Meanwhile, the soulless Victor is cheating on his young wife. Arthur reappears on the horizon. He wants to take Julie away with little Elena. But a fatal accident ruins the plans of the lovers - Lord Grenville burns down from a cold and dies.

“God did not create a single law that would lead to misfortune, and people gathered and distorted his creation”

To forget her grief, the "illegitimate widow" goes to the castle of Saint-Lage. There she meets a priest. He also suffered a heavy loss - his entire family died, he found salvation in faith. Julie confesses to a servant of God, but there is no repentance in her confession, rather, on the contrary, she regained her sight, threw off the whim of public morality and became free. Julie shocks the priest with her confession that she does not love her daughter, because Elena is a constant reminder of her hated husband and her lost love.

Julie does not see the point in staying longer as a recluse, she goes to Paris and quickly starts an affair with Charles de Vandenesse. The couple has a baby, whom the parents surround with boundless care. But the grown-up Elena throws the baby off the cliff when her parents do not see. The love of Julie and Charles cannot endure grief, and they part.

“We are more often destroyed not by sorrows themselves, but by lost hopes”

Next time we meet with Julie - a respectable lady, the mother of the family. She had three more children, she adores them all. Elena has turned into a pretty young girl. In this idyllic picture of a family evening, you will never think about the passions that tormented the family in the past. But a young heart is not able to burn out so quickly - one day Elena runs away with a romantic robber and becomes a pirate on his ship. Years later, Julie will meet her first child when she is dying in the infirmary on the waters.

For connoisseurs of the work of Honore De Balzac, it will be interesting to read a review of the following books: and a summary. The works are really interesting and deserve your attention.

And even later we meet Julie the old lady. She lives in the house of her daughter Moina. Julie's sons died, so Moina got all her mother's love ... and money. The girl successfully married a diplomat who spends six months of the year on a business trip. While the missus is away, Moina has a love affair brewing. The mother warns her daughter against falling - there is no way back. But she just snorts contemptuously. Julie goes into the garden and dies.

Facts about the novel

Initially, the novel “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman” was not even a novel. Balzac wrote six separate stories, but then decided to combine them into a single work. The text was practically not subjected to processing, only the names of the main characters were replaced with Julie. This is the reason why some researchers observe a lack of integrity in terms of the central image and the development of the plot.

In general, the creation of the work took a solid time period for Honore - 5 years, from 1829 to 1834. Upon completion, "The Thirty-Year-Old Woman" took pride of place in the main work of the writer "The Human Comedy", adding to the bright palette of "Scenes of Private Life".

The novel is a vivid demonstration of the application of the original Balzac method - analytical realism. It involves "a deep, systematic study of modern life and its comprehension at the level of the general laws of human nature, historical time and social life."

Analysis of the work

The main pillars on which the artistic problems of the novel are based are:

• self love;
• a woman's love for a man;
• mother's love for the child;
• love for God.

Self-love is changing in Julie's mind with the metamorphoses that her philosophy of life undergoes. Moral norms of the 19th century ordered a woman to be a good mother and wife, the keeper of the hearth, that is, a woman was obliged (whether she feels it or not) to give love. But nothing was said about the fact that she was supposed to receive some kind of tender feelings in return. Bypassing the generally accepted and religious morality, Julie decides to love herself, her little universe becomes self-centered.

The love of a woman for a man is shown in different manifestations:

• the first love is a dream when Julie falls in love with the handsome Victor at the parade;
• love is a sacrifice, when the main character is desperately trying to save the marriage, despite her husband's infidelity;
• mature mutual love (relationship between Julie and Arthur);
• love-passion, an adventurous feeling that knows no barriers and moral norms (the novel by Julie and Charles, Elena and the robber).

But the main thing is that any love dies without the harmony of the physical and spiritual components. Carnal attraction is fleeting, it is easy to find a replacement for it, the kinship of souls is eternal, it is much more difficult, even almost impossible, to find a spiritual partner again.

A mother's love for a child and love for God are considered to be the strongest, even immortal.

The first is born by itself along with the birth of the baby. The second person acquires by receiving religious education in the family and society. Such is the law of God's world in which we live. But what is God for Julie - there is no consolation for her in God and religion, because they do not give her the most important thing - female happiness with a man. The heroine easily circumvents this law - she does not love her daughter and honestly admits this to the priest. Julie fulfills her duty - she contains and takes care of the child, but does not give him the most important thing - spiritual intimacy and maternal tenderness. Subconsciously, Julie acts exactly the same as Victor did with her. This accidental revenge of the offended woman was passed on to her daughter. Elena's life was broken even at the moment when she uttered her first baby cry.

So what, in fact, is the “Balzac age”? In fact, this is not a number, but a state. A woman of “Balzac age” is not young, she has a certain life and sensual experience, she is distinguished by “independence, independence of judgment and freedom to express her feelings” (Dictionary of winged words and expressions). Later, this concept was simplified, becoming jokingly called women of Balzac age those ladies who imitated the main character of the popular novel. Today, this is the name of all the fair sex from 30 to 40 years old. But we now know that not every 30-year-old can be called a “Balzac lady”.

Place in literature: French literature of the 19th century → French realism → the work of Honore de Balzac → “The Human Comedy” → “Scenes of Private Life” → 1842, novel “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman”.

Key concepts: “Balzac age”, gender inequality, analytical realism.

Who will be interested in the article: schoolchildren and students of philological universities, fans of the work of Honore de Balzac, French realism and competent romance novels.

The novel "The Thirty-Year-Old Woman": summary, history of creation, analysis

5 (100%) 6 votes

At the beginning of April, 1813, it was a Sunday morning that promised a wonderful day. On such a day, for the first time since the winter weather, Parisians see dry pavements and a cloudless sky. Around noon, a graceful cabriolet, drawn by a pair of frisky horses, turned off the Calle Castiglione into the Calle Rivoli and stopped behind a line of carriages, at a gate recently erected near the Feglianov site. This light carriage was ruled by a man whose face bore the stamp of worries and illness; gray hair, already sparse on the crown, shimmering with yellowness, aged him ahead of time; he threw the bridle to the footman on horseback, who was accompanying the carriage, and got down to help down a pretty girl, who immediately attracted the attention of idle spectators. The girl, stepping on the edge of the carriage, threw her arms around the neck of her companion, and he carried her to the sidewalk so carefully that he did not even wrinkle the trim on her green rep dress. A lover would not have shown such care. The stranger was obviously the girl's father; without thanking him, she casually took him by the arm and impetuously drew him into the garden. The old man noticed with what admiration the young people looked at his daughter, and the sadness that darkened his face disappeared for a moment. He smiled, although he had long since entered the age when he had to be content with the mere illusory joys of vanity.

Everyone thinks that you are my wife, - he whispered in the girl's ear and, straightening up, walked even more slowly, which led her to despair.

He, apparently, was proud of his daughter, and he, perhaps even more than hers, was amused by the glances of men, stealthily gliding over her legs in dark brown prunel shoes, at her fragile figure, which was fitted by an elegant dress with an insert, and at her fresh neck. , protruding from the embroidered collar. The girl's step was swift, the frills of her dress flew up every now and then, for a moment showing the rounded line of a chiseled leg in an openwork silk stocking. And more than one dandy overtook this couple to admire the girl, to once again look at the young face, framed by swept dark curls; it seemed even whiter, even rosier in the reflections of the pink satin with which her fashionable bonnet was lined, and partly from that passionate impatience that breathed all the features of her charming face. Sweet slyness enlivened her beautiful black eyes - eyes with an almond-shaped slit and beautifully arched eyebrows, overshadowed by long eyelashes and shining with a wet sheen. Life and youth flaunted their treasures, as if embodied in this wayward face and in this camp, so slender, despite the belt tied in the then fashion under the very chest. The girl, not paying attention to the fans, looked with some anxiety at the Tuileries Palace - of course, she was so irresistibly attracted to him. It was a quarter to twelve. The hour was early, but a multitude of women, seeking to dazzle everyone with their dresses, were already returning from the palace, turning around every now and then with a displeased look, as if they regretted that they were late, that they would not be able to enjoy the spectacle that they so wanted to see. The beautiful stranger picked up on the fly several remarks, dropped with annoyance by the dressed-up ladies, and for some reason they greatly excited her. The old man followed with a penetrating rather than mocking gaze the way the expression of fear and impatience was replaced on the pretty face of his daughter, and, perhaps, even watched her too intently: hidden paternal anxiety was evident in this.

That was the thirteenth Sunday in 1813. A day later, Napoleon set off on that fatal campaign, during which he was destined to lose Bessieres, and after him - Duroc, win the memorable battles of Lutzen and Bautzen, see that he was betrayed by Austria, Saxony, Bavaria, Bernadotte, and stubbornly defend himself in a cruel battle near Leipzig. The brilliant parade under the command of the emperor was destined to be the last in a series of parades that had so long delighted Parisians and foreigners. For the last time, the old guard was going to show the art of maneuvers, the magnificence and accuracy of which sometimes amazed even the giant himself, who in those days was preparing for a duel with Europe. A smart and curious crowd was attracted to the Tuileries by a sad feeling. Everyone seemed to foresee the future and, perhaps, foresaw that more than once the imagination would reproduce this whole picture in memory, when the heroic times of France would acquire, as it happened now, an almost legendary shade.

Well, come on, daddy! the girl said briskly, dragging the old man along with her. - Hear: beat the drums.

The troops are entering the Tuileries, he answered.

Or have already passed the ceremonial march! .. Everyone is already returning! she said in the tone of an offended child, and the old man smiled.

The parade will begin only at half past one, - he remarked, barely keeping up with his restless daughter.

If you saw how the girl waved her right hand, you would say that she helps herself to run. Her little gloved hand crumpled impatiently into her handkerchief and looked like an oar cutting through the waves. The old man sometimes smiled, but sometimes his haggard face became gloomy and preoccupied. Out of love for this beautiful creature, he not only rejoiced in the present, but also feared the future. He seemed to be saying to himself: “She is happy today, will she always be happy?” Old people are generally inclined to reward the future of young people with their sorrows. Father and daughter entered under the peristyle of the pavilion, along which walkers scurry about, passing from the Tuileries Garden to Carousel Square, and here, at the pavilion, at that hour decorated with a fluttering tricolor flag, they heard the stern cry of sentries:

The passage is closed!

The girl stood on tiptoe, and she managed to catch a glimpse of only a crowd of smart women, located along the ancient marble arcade, from where the emperor was supposed to appear.

You see, father, we are late!

Her lips clenched sadly, it was clear that it was very important for her to be present at the parade.

Well, let's go back, Julie; You don't like crushes.

Let's stay daddy! At least I'll look at the emperor, otherwise if he dies on the campaign, I won't see him.

The old man shuddered at these words, full of selfishness; tears were heard in the girl's voice; he looked at her, and it seemed to him that tears glistened under her lowered eyelashes, caused not so much by annoyance as by those first sorrows, the secret of which it is not difficult to comprehend the old father. Suddenly Julie flared up, and an exclamation broke out of her chest, the meaning of which neither the guards nor the old man understood. An officer who ran to the palace stairs, hearing this exclamation, turned around with vivacity, went up to the garden fence, recognized the girl, for a moment obscured by the big bear hats of the grenadiers, and immediately canceled the order forbidding passage for her and her father, - an order that he himself gave; then, ignoring the murmur of the smart crowd besieging the arcade, he tenderly drew the beaming girl to him.

Now it does not surprise me why she was so angry and in such a hurry - it turns out that you are on duty, - the old man said to the officer, half in jest, half seriously.

Sir, replied the young man, if you like to make yourself comfortable, there is no point in wasting time talking. The emperor does not like to wait; everything is ready, and the field marshal instructed me to report this to his majesty.

So saying, he took Julie by the arm with friendly ease and quickly led her to the Carousel Square. Julie was surprised to see that a dense crowd flooded the entire small space between the gray walls of the palace and the pedestals connected by chains, which drew huge squares sprinkled with sand in the middle of the Tuileries courtyard. It was not easy for the cordon of sentries guarding the path of the emperor and his staff to resist the onslaught of the impatient crowd, buzzing like a swarm of bees.

Everyone, for sure, heard the ironic expression “Balzac age”. In fact, it is not so comical and its source was not the domestic series with Menshova and Lada Dance, but the work “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman”, created by the legend of French romance Honore de Balzac.

“Thirty-year-old woman”: a summary of the work

With the main character, who will have to become the prototype of all the ladies of the “Balzac age”, we get acquainted in the heyday of her bright girlish beauty. Everyone around is fascinated by her snow-white skin with a fresh blush, thick dark curls, slender legs in leather shoes. But the gaze of the girl, her name is Julie, is fixed only on one thing - a young officer, Count Victor d'Aiglemont. Julie's first love

When his horse rears up, the girl lets out a heart-rending cry, which betrays her love. Julie is accompanied by her father. He tries to warn his daughter - there is nothing more behind Victor's beautiful appearance and ostentatious daring. However, the first love is not only blind, but also stubborn. The father is unable to interfere with the choice of his favorite. Soon, Count Victor becomes the husband of sixteen-year-old Julie.

“Julie belonged to the number of women who are born to be loved: joy seems to come from them”

Julie did not take long to be disappointed in her chosen one. Despite the fact that everyone around her was still crazy about Victor, she knew that he was only pathetic mediocrity. In addition to satisfying simple physical needs, the spouse did not need anything, and Julie needed spiritual intimacy.

“Don’t we meet people in the world whose complete insignificance is a mystery to those around them?”

But soon Julie meets Arthur Ormon, Lord Grenville. Despite the fact that Arthur is an Englishman, his passion is able to rekindle Julie's heart, hardened over the years of marriage. The unfortunate woman is torn between duty and personal happiness, but being unable to go against public morality, she breaks with her lover. From her husband, she gives birth to a daughter, Elena, and for some time is forgotten by motherhood. Meanwhile, the soulless Victor is cheating on his young wife. Arthur reappears on the horizon. He wants to take Julie away with little Elena. But a fatal accident ruins the plans of the lovers - Lord Grenville burns down from a cold and dies.

“God did not create a single law that would lead to misfortune, and people gathered and distorted his creation”

To forget her grief, the "illegitimate widow" goes to the castle of Saint-Lage. There she meets a priest. He also suffered a heavy loss - his entire family died, he found salvation in faith. Julie confesses to a servant of God, but there is no repentance in her confession, rather, on the contrary, she regained her sight, threw off the whim of public morality and became free. Julie shocks the priest with her confession that she does not love her daughter, because Elena is a constant reminder of her hated husband and her lost love.

Julie does not see the point in staying longer as a recluse, she goes to Paris and quickly starts an affair with Charles de Vandenesse. The couple has a baby, whom the parents surround with boundless care. But the grown-up Elena throws the baby off the cliff when her parents do not see. The love of Julie and Charles cannot endure grief, and they part.

“We are more often destroyed not by sorrows themselves, but by lost hopes”

Next time we meet with Julie - a respectable lady, the mother of the family. She had three more children, she adores them all. Elena has turned into a pretty young girl. In this idyllic picture of a family evening, you will never think about the passions that tormented the family in the past. But a young heart is not able to burn out so quickly - one day Elena runs away with a romantic robber and becomes a pirate on his ship. Years later, Julie will meet her first child when she is dying in the infirmary on the waters.

For connoisseurs of the work of Honore De Balzac, it will be interesting to read a review of the following books: The Human Comedy and a summary of Father Goriot. The works are really interesting and deserve your attention.

And even later we meet Julie the old lady. She lives in the house of her daughter Moina. Julie's sons died, so Moina got all her mother's love ... and money. The girl successfully married a diplomat who spends six months of the year on a business trip. While the missus is away, Moina has a love affair brewing. The mother warns her daughter against falling - there is no way back. But she just snorts contemptuously. Julie goes into the garden and dies.

Facts about the novel

Initially, the novel “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman” was not even a novel. Balzac wrote six separate stories, but then decided to combine them into a single work. The text was practically not subjected to processing, only the names of the main characters were replaced with Julie. This is the reason why some researchers observe a lack of integrity in terms of the central image and the development of the plot.

In general, the creation of the work took a solid time period for Honore - 5 years, from 1829 to 1834. Upon completion, "The Thirty-Year-Old Woman" took pride of place in the main work of the writer "The Human Comedy", adding to the bright palette of "Scenes of Private Life".

The novel is a vivid demonstration of the application of the original Balzac method - analytical realism. It involves "a deep, systematic study of modern life and its comprehension at the level of the general laws of human nature, historical time and social life."

Analysis of the work

The main pillars on which the artistic problems of the novel are based are:

• self love;
• a woman's love for a man;
• mother's love for the child;
• love for God.

Self-love is changing in Julie's mind with the metamorphoses that her philosophy of life undergoes. Moral norms of the 19th century ordered a woman to be a good mother and wife, the keeper of the hearth, that is, a woman was obliged (whether she feels it or not) to give love. But nothing was said about the fact that she was supposed to receive some kind of tender feelings in return. Bypassing the generally accepted and religious morality, Julie decides to love herself, her little universe becomes self-centered.

The love of a woman for a man is shown in different manifestations:

• the first love is a dream when Julie falls in love with the handsome Victor at the parade;
• love is a sacrifice, when the main character is desperately trying to save the marriage, despite her husband's infidelity;
• mature mutual love (relationship between Julie and Arthur);
• love-passion, an adventurous feeling that knows no barriers and moral norms (the novel by Julie and Charles, Elena and the robber).

But the main thing is that any love dies without the harmony of the physical and spiritual components. Carnal attraction is fleeting, it is easy to find a replacement for it, the kinship of souls is eternal, it is much more difficult, even almost impossible, to find a spiritual partner again.

A mother's love for a child and love for God are considered to be the strongest, even immortal.

The first is born by itself along with the birth of the baby. The second person acquires by receiving religious education in the family and society. Such is the law of God's world in which we live. But what is God for Julie - there is no consolation for her in God and religion, because they do not give her the most important thing - female happiness with a man. The heroine easily circumvents this law - she does not love her daughter and honestly admits this to the priest. Julie fulfills her duty - she contains and takes care of the child, but does not give him the most important thing - spiritual intimacy and maternal tenderness. Subconsciously, Julie acts exactly the same as Victor did with her. This accidental revenge of the offended woman was passed on to her daughter. Elena's life was broken even at the moment when she uttered her first baby cry.

So what, in fact, is the “Balzac age”? In fact, this is not a number, but a state. A woman of “Balzac age” is not young, she has a certain life and sensual experience, she is distinguished by “independence, independence of judgment and freedom to express her feelings” (Dictionary of winged words and expressions). Later, this concept was simplified, becoming jokingly called women of Balzac age those ladies who imitated the main character of the popular novel. Today, this is the name of all the fair sex from 30 to 40 years old. But we now know that not every 30-year-old can be called a “Balzac lady”.

Place in literature: French literature of the 19th century → French realism → the work of Honore de Balzac → “The Human Comedy” → “Scenes of Private Life” → 1842, novel “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman”.

Key concepts: “Balzac age”, gender inequality, analytical realism.

Who will be interested in the article: schoolchildren and students of philological universities, fans of the work of Honore de Balzac, French realism and competent romance novels.

The novel “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman”: a summary, history of creation, analysis

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