In this blog post, we will examine the characters and themes of Balzac’s “The Lily of the Valley,” as well as the author’s life and background.
Interpretation of the Work and Characters
Those who have read Balzac’s “Father Goriot” first may feel momentarily perplexed when encountering “The Lily of the Valley.” While “Father Goriot” makes readers uncomfortable by starkly exposing a corrupt society and vulgar characters, “The Lily of the Valley” takes us in the opposite direction, to the side of a nearly unbelievable, saintly woman.
The heroine of the novel, Countess Morsoff, is the epitome of maternal love, just as Old Goriot is the epitome of paternal love. She is portrayed as a saintly woman who endures all hardships and devotes herself to others. She shares only a spiritual connection with her beloved and never crosses the line; she lives a deeply devout life, always praying to God. She also serves as a spiritual mentor who teaches the protagonist the proper guidelines for life, and she is a moral figure who encapsulates her advice in the phrase “noblesse oblige.”
However, the reason she truly moves us is not merely her virtue. In the preface, Balzac even goes so far as to describe her inner conflict as greater than any famous battle in this world. That struggle is a battle between angels and demons, heaven and earth, soul and body. She was not a figure devoid of inner conflict, like a saint. After meeting Félix, she confesses to constant conflict and guilt, and as she faces death, she reveals herself to be a prisoner of human desire.
Just as Jesus drew closer to us when he cried out in human suffering on the cross, Madame Morsoff, too, comes to us as a greater and more relatable saint precisely because she endured inner conflict. She is not an unapproachable saint, but a human saint who is always by our side.
Felix, who was loved by her, was a man who had tasted heavenly love. Yet he betrays her. This is because he felt both spiritual love and physical desire at the same time. Felix fulfills the physical desire that remained unfulfilled with Mrs. Morsov through his relationship with Mrs. Dudley in Paris. He is a character who has experienced both extremes: pure, selfless love and sensual love.
Is his inner self truly happy, having tasted both? Certainly not. He is torn between the two and suffers deeply. This work also sharply illustrates such inner conflict in the way it deals with the pain of youth. The pain of youth cannot be explained solely by the uncertainty of the future or by heightened sensitivity. True pain stems from the experience of being torn between ideals and reality, between heavenly love and physical desire.
“The Lily of the Valley” is a quintessential novel for young people. It offers empathy and comfort to those who, while looking toward their ideals, are beginning to realize they are grounded in reality—and who feel pain because of it. At the same time, this novel neither declares, “This is the ideal form of love,” nor compels readers to resolve, “I must experience love like this myself.”
Readers who feel conflicted between Countess Morse and Lady Dudley may feel bewildered or empathetic upon reading “Natalie’s Letter” at the end of the work. It leaves us with a dual emotion: everything seems plausible, yet at the same time, nothing seems quite right. Ultimately, this beautiful love story does not teach us about love but rather prompts us to ask, “What exactly is love?”
Just as the books of great masters pose questions rather than offering definitive answers, there is no single correct answer to love. The moment we think we know the answer, love leaves our side. This is why people who seem skilled at romance often fail in their own relationships. Love does not come simply by calculating or waiting with a clear head.
However, love does not come to just anyone. It comes to those who are ready to love. Just as the meaning of life is revealed to those who ask, “What is life?” love comes only to those who ask, “How can I truly love?” We read romance novels not because they provide answers, but because they prepare us to love through the emotions they evoke. “The Lily of the Valley” is regarded as the quintessential romance novel precisely because it helps us make that preparation.
Balzac’s Life and Background
The setting of ‘The Lily of the Valley’ is a beautiful castle on the banks of the Loire River near Tours, and the novel contains many autobiographical elements. Balzac was born in Tours, a city in the Loire Valley known as the “Garden of France.” The family name was originally “Balssa,” but starting with his father’s generation, they began using the aristocratic surname “de Balzac.” His mother came from a family of merchants in Paris, while his father, originally a farmer, rose to prominence as a civil servant during the turmoil of the French Revolution and secured a post in Tours.
Balzac’s childhood coincided with the period when Napoleon dominated all of Europe. Although Napoleon had stepped down from power by the time Balzac was about 16, Balzac continued to worship him until the very end. He harbored a secret ambition to achieve with his pen what could not be achieved with a sword. At his father’s urging, he studied law at the Sorbonne and gained three years of practical experience working in a law and notary office.
However, his true ambition lay in literature. He dropped out of college just before graduation and shut himself away in a shabby attic to devote himself to writing. He attempted to write poetic tragedies and over ten novels, and even dabbled in printing, publishing, and type casting, but failed miserably. Amid these hardships, the one who comforted and encouraged him was Madame de Berny, a devoted lover more than twenty years his senior. ‘The Lily of the Valley’ (1835) is a lyrical work based on his love for Madame de Berny.
After Madame Verny’s death, Madame Hanska, a Polish noblewoman, dominated the remainder of Balzac’s life, and he married her shortly before his death. He made his literary debut in 1829 with the novel ‘The Owl Party’, after which he churned out novels at an astonishing pace.
Balzac’s writing habits were excessively vigorous. He would begin writing at midnight and immerse himself in his work for over ten hours; in the morning, he dealt with demands from publishers and creditors while handling the flood of proofs. After lunch, he proofread manuscripts; in the evening, he dined out and socialized, followed by a short nap, and then at midnight, he would once again immerse himself in writing. This excessive workload took a toll on his health, and he eventually passed away on August 18, 1850, at the age of 51.
He had married in March of 1850, the very year of his death. After marrying Madame Hanska—who had been his patron and lover for 15 years—in Ukraine and returning to Paris in May, he received a visit from Hugo and died just a few hours later.
