Vauquer

Vauquer is a fictional character created by Honoré de Balzac, appearing in his novel "Père Goriot," part of the "La Comédie humaine" series. Madame Vauquer is the proprietor of a boarding house located in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Her establishment serves as a microcosm of Parisian society, housing a diverse group of residents from various social strata.

The boarding house itself, known as the Maison Vauquer, is depicted as a rather dilapidated and unpretentious dwelling. Madame Vauquer is characterized as a shrewd, somewhat avaricious, and often gossipy woman. She presides over her lodgers with a mixture of maternal fussiness and keen financial calculation. Her primary concern is the well-being of her establishment and the timely payment of rent by her tenants.

The Maison Vauquer is a crucial setting in "Père Goriot," serving as the primary residence for several key characters, most notably Eugène de Rastignac and the titular Père Goriot. The interactions and dramas that unfold within the boarding house provide Balzac with a platform to explore themes of social ambition, poverty, and the corrupting influence of Parisian life. Madame Vauquer, while not a central protagonist, plays an important role as an observer and facilitator of these societal interactions. Her boarding house is a place where illusions are formed and often shattered, reflecting the harsh realities of the era.