# Félix Grandet — Eugénie Grandet character guide

> Félix Grandet in Eugénie Grandet by Honoré de Balzac.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** M. Grandet, Grandet, old Grandet, Goodman Grandet, père Grandet, Master Grandet

**First appearance:** 0001-eug-nie-grandet

## Snapshot

A former cooper turned Saumur's richest miser, he rules his household like a vault—counting, hoarding, and trusting no one with the key.

## Who they are

Once a plain master cooper, Grandet parlayed his wife's dowry and a shrewd Revolutionary land grab into a fortune the whole town whispers about but never sees. In his gloomy house on the steep street, he rations candles, bread, and affection with the same iron thrift, keeping even his wife and daughter in anxious dependence. His avarice is the engine of the early story: every visitor, suitor, and family crisis must first pass through his ledger.

## Relationships

### [Eugénie Grandet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/eugenie_grandet)

_family_

Daughter and miserly father, a relationship defined by Félix's emotional and financial control over Eugénie.

### [Charles Grandet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/charles_grandet)

_family_

Uncle and nephew, with Félix exploiting Charles's financial ruin to gain advantage and later disowning him.

### [Cruchot de Bonfons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/cruchot_de_bonfons)

_social_

A relationship of mutual manipulation, with Cruchot courting Félix's favor to secure Eugénie's hand.

### [Cruchot de Bonfons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/cruchot_de_bonfons)

_social_

A relationship of mutual manipulation, with Cruchot courting Félix's favor to secure Eugénie's hand.

### [Eugénie Grandet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/eugenie_grandet)

_family_

Daughter and miserly father, a relationship defined by Félix's emotional and financial control over Eugénie.

### [Charles Grandet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/charles_grandet)

_family_

Uncle and nephew, with Félix exploiting Charles's financial ruin to gain advantage and later disowning him.

### [Cruchot de Bonfons](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/cruchot_de_bonfons)

_social_

A relationship of mutual manipulation, with Cruchot courting Félix's favor to secure Eugénie's hand.

### [Charles Grandet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/charles_grandet)

_family_

Uncle and nephew, with Félix exploiting Charles's financial ruin to gain advantage and later disowning him.

### [Eugénie Grandet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/eugenie_grandet)

_family_

Daughter and miserly father, a relationship defined by Félix's emotional and financial control over Eugénie.

## In the story

### [Eugénie Grandet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/chapters/eug-nie-grandet)

Aged and paralyzed, dies at 82; his greed for gold persists until the end; he entrusts Eugénie with the keys and instructs her in estate management.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters/felix_grandet
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/eugenie_grandet_se/characters