Victorine Taillefer Character Analysis in Père Goriot

Victorine is a young woman who lives in the Maison Vauquer, Madame Vauquer’s boarding house. Madame Couture is her guardian. Victorine’s mother died, and her wealthy father, Taillefer, refuses to acknowledge her; his massive inheritance is bequeathed to Victorine’s brother instead. Every year, Victorine visits her father to ask for his mercy, but he still refuses to see her. Victorine is melancholy but beautiful, the most sincere and innocent character in the novel. She is a devout Catholic. She also has a crush on Rastignac, who cruelly leads her to believe there’s hope for marriage at one point. Victorine eventually gains her inheritance after Vautrin has her brother killed, but it brings her no joy.

Victorine Taillefer Character Timeline in Père Goriot

The timeline below shows where the character Victorine Taillefer appears in Père Goriot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...Madame Couture acts as a mother figure to a young girl—the one referred to earlier—named Victorine Taillefer. Upstairs, there is an elderly boarder named Poiret and another, about age 40, who... (full context)

Manipulation, Delusion, and Betrayal Theme Icon

Two figures stand out from the crowd of boarders. Though Victorine Taillefer is fragile and melancholy, she still has a certain youthfulness, and if she were... (full context)

Emotions, Sincerity, and Calculation Theme Icon

When Madame Couture and Victorine join the breakfast crowd, having just come from Mass, Victorine is shaking with fear over... (full context)

That evening, Victorine is red-eyed with grief—her father, Madame Couture explains, once again resisted Victorine’s heartfelt pleas for... (full context)

Vautrin tells Rastignac that such a gullible, devoted girl is right in front of him: Victorine. If her father, Taillefer, were to lose his son, Vautrin is sure that he would... (full context)

...resign himself to drudgery as a lawyer or pursue a different path. Vautrin winks in Victorine’s direction, reminding Rastignac of his arguments and the “seeds of corruption” he’d planted. (full context)

...and watching everything, thinks about the plan they’d discussed and throws a tender glance at Victorine, who’s sitting in front of the fire. When she asks if Rastignac is troubled, Rastignac... (full context)

...only as means to an end. Rastignac continues to tell himself that he’ll never marry Victorine. He finds Vautrin repugnant, and yet Vautrin’s cynicism and his position in society are attractive... (full context)

...on his way home from his medical school lecture. They do, however, notice Rastignac and Victorine engaged in an intimate conversation as they enter the boarding house. (full context)

...de Nucingen. Inwardly, he has given in to Vautrin’s plan, having made certain promises to Victorine. Victorine is decidedly in love. Rastignac, meanwhile, struggles with his conscience: he knows he’s behaving... (full context)

After Victorine goes to her room, Vautrin comes in and informs Rastignac that his friend who owes... (full context)

...with him that evening. Sylvie hauls Goriot upstairs to bed, while Rastignac falls asleep on Victorine’s shoulder, to her delight. When Vautrin draws up with the carriage, Victorine wants to leave... (full context)

After Vautrin and Madame Vauquer leave for the theater, Madame Couture and Victorine talk about Victorine’s future. Victorine says that she could never enjoy becoming an heiress if... (full context)

Just then, a cab can be heard outside. One of Monsieur Taillefer’s servants hurries in. Victorine is urgently needed, he says—her brother Frédéric has been mortally wounded in a duel. Vautrin... (full context)

Rastignac, however, tells Madame Vauquer emphatically that he has no intention of marrying Victorine. He sends a message back to Madame de Nucingen that he’s on his way. Furious,... (full context)

Then, a messenger comes in with the news that Victorine’s brother died that afternoon. Madame Couture and Victorine will now live with Taillefer, who has... (full context)

...to be worthy of Goriot’s actions, Goriot tells Delphine that Rastignac is going to refuse Victorine and her millions for Delphine’s sake. Rastignac wishes that the old man had kept silent... (full context)