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Symbols
Doors symbolize access to the higher echelons of Paris society and, therefore, to personal success. For a vulnerable character like Victorine, for example, the door of her father’s house is repeatedly slammed in her face, denying her access to the social stability her rightful inheritance would afford. As an idealistic young student, Eugène de Rastignac quickly learns that an unwritten code of social behavior “opens every door” to those who make the effort to master it—and that doors are both figuratively literally closed to those who remain ignorant to it, as when his mentioning of Père Goriot gets him ejected from Madame de Restaud’s house. The opening and closing of doors—and the matter of people’s willingness to learn and abide by the rules governing such access—recurs throughout the novel, showing the delicacy of social connections in this inflexibly status-driven world.
Doors Quotes in Père Goriot
The Père Goriot quotes below all refer to the symbol of Doors. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 1
Quotes
‘All right, let Père Goriot win you admission to Madame Delphine de Nucingen's house. The beautiful Madame de Nucingen will be the standard you bear. Enjoy the marks of her favour and women will dote on you. […] You will be very successful. In Paris success is everything, it is the key to power. If women believe you to have wit and talent, so will men, unless you disillusion them. Then you can set your heart on anything, every door will be open to you. Then you will learn what the world is really like: an assembly of dupes and knaves. Don't be counted with either.’
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Chapter 2
Quotes
The student walked back from the Théâtre-Italien to the rue Neuve-Sainte-Geneviève, his head full of the most alluring plans. He had not failed to notice how closely Madame de Restaud had observed him, both in the vicomtesse's box and in that of Madame de Nucingen, and he presumed that he would no longer find the comtesse's door closed to him. He could already count on four major contacts in the most select Parisian society […]
'If Madame de Nucingen takes an interest in me, I will teach her how to manipulate her husband. Her husband is a very successful businessman, and he'll be able to help me make my fortune in less than no time.'
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Get the entire Père Goriot LitChart as a printable PDF.
Doors Symbol Timeline in Père Goriot
The timeline below shows where the symbol Doors appears in Père Goriot. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 1: A Family Boarding House
...goes to her father’s house to ask for mercy, but each time he shuts the door in her face.
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...from his studies. He wanders into the hallway and notices a light beneath Père Goriot’s door. When he peeks through the keyhole, he sees Goriot twisting a silver dish and bowl...
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Chapter 3: Death-Dodger
...speak with him urgently. Before Rastignac can explain why, however, Vautrin interrupts, standing in the doorway and singing loudly.
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...men marching down the street. Before Vautrin can escape, four armed soldiers appear at the door, while others block the various exits. Everyone’s eyes are fixed on Vautrin. The chief of...
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