The characters in the novel "Cousin Bette" represent polarities of contrasting morality. Bette is quite vengeful and Valerie is disingenuous. Adeline is quite merciful and her daughter Hortense is also very patient.
The head of the Hulot family is the slave of his sexual desire. Hortense's husband is the Polish exile Wenceslas Steinbeck. He is a man of artistic genius, though he does not seem to be motivated in any manner.
It is assumed that the character of Bette is based in part on the mother or Balzac and the poet Marceline Desbordes Valmore.
Literature Help: Cousin Bette
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Historical Background
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Writing Style
Chapter Five: Plot Summary
Chapter Six: Thematic Analysis
- ISBN13 9781304966667
- Publish Date 22 March 2014
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 25 June 2021
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Lulu.com
- Format eBook (OEB)
- Language English