Frenhofer's suicide and the downfall of Le Baron Gros

Authors
Nolan, W
Citation
W. Nolan, Frenhofer's suicide and the downfall of Le Baron Gros, SYMPOSIUM, 54(2), 2000, pp. 90-112
Citations number
41
Categorie Soggetti
Literature
Journal title
SYMPOSIUM-A QUARTERLY JOURNAL IN MODERN LITERATURES
ISSN journal
00397709 → ACNP
Volume
54
Issue
2
Year of publication
2000
Pages
90 - 112
Database
ISI
SICI code
0039-7709(200022)54:2<90:FSATDO>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
The importance of the theme of doubt in Balzac's Le Chef-d'oeuvre inconnu r eflects the cultural climate of uncertainty during the early years of the J uly Monarchy. It is argued that the painter Antoine-Jean Gros' suicide prov ides insights into Balzac's representation of the character Frenhofer, whos e artistic crisis also lead to suicide.