Père Goriot Characters

Madame Couture is a widow who lives in the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. She is Victorine Taillefer’s guardian, a relative of the girl’s deceased mother. Madame Couture dotes on Victorine like her own daughter and, like Victorine, is a devout Catholic.

Monsieur Poiret is an elderly boarder in the Maison Vauquer. He is shriveled and shaky-legged and looks as if he’s suffered in life. Poiret is friends with Mademoiselle Michonneau, and the two seem to have a romantic understanding. In conversation, he tends to just repeat what other people say.

Typically referred to as “fat Sylvie,” she is the cook at Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. Sylvie often gossips and complains.

Christophe does odd jobs at Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. He attends Goriot’s funeral and is one of the only characters to speak kindly of the old man.

Monsieur de Restaud is Anastasie’s husband. He tolerates Anastasie’s lover Maxime, but he doesn’t let Anastasie see her father, Goriot, whom he disdains.

The baron is Madame Delphine de Nucingen’s husband; he is a shrewd German banker and baron of the Holy Roman Empire. The baron and Delphine do not love each other, and he refuses to let her see Goriot.

The comte is Anastasie’s lover; he’s a haughty, well-groomed young man with a fancy carriage. Anastasie’s husband, Monsieur de Restaud, knows about him and tolerates the affair. Maxime is addicted to gambling and accumulates huge debts.

De Marsay is Madame Delphine de Nucingen’s lover, who abandons her.

The marquis is a wealthy and famous Portuguese nobleman with whom the Vicomtesse de Beauséant has been having an affair. He is engaged to a woman named Mademoiselle de Rochefide.

Taillefer is Victorine’s merciless father who disowns her in favor of leaving his estate to Victorine’s brother.

Madame de Marcillac is Rastignac’s aunt.

Gobseck is a Paris moneylender.

The duchesse is a good friend of the Vicomtesse de Beauséant who delivers the news that the marquis is engaged to someone else.

Gondureau is the police detective who brings about Vautrin’s arrest.

Mademoiselle de Rochefide is the Marquis de Ajuda-Pinto’s fiancée.