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Father Goriot · Character

Vautrin

A burly, jovial boarder at the Maison Vauquer whose knowing talk and generous purse conceal a career far darker than his manners suggest.

major

Also known as M. Vautrin, Jacques Collin, Trompe-la-Mort

First appearance: Father Goriot

As a major figure in Father Goriot, Vautrin is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Reveals Goriot's actions to Rastignac and cynically explains the corrupt nature of Parisian society.
In the storyFather GoriotOpen this moment free
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Vautrin dominates the boarding-house table with wit, appetite, and unsettling insight into how Paris really works, singling out Rastignac as a young man worth teaching. He preaches a doctrine of ruthless self-interest…

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See Vautrin in Father Goriot

Character Web

27 connections

A slice of how Vautrin sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

DDDuchesse de La…MAMauriceCDClaire de Bour…BDBaron de Nucin…EDEugène de Rast…VAVautrin

Relationship types

  • Psychological
  • Other

Character groups

  • Main narrative characters
  • Secondary and background figures

+22 more in the full Character Web

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Relationships

Relationship notes

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See Vautrin in Father Goriot

In the story

Vautrin appears across 1 companion beat. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter companion notes

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See Vautrin in Father Goriot
See Vautrin in Father Goriot