02263cam a22003133u 4500 14246 UtSlPG 20260610133333.0 m cr n 260607r2004||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PQ Balzac, Honoré de, 1799-1850 Mercadet: A Comedy in Three Acts Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2004 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2004-12-03 Produced by Dagny and John Bickers "Mercadet: A Comedy in Three Acts" by Honoré de Balzac is a play written in the mid-19th century that delves into the intricacies of financial speculation and social aspirations in Parisian society. The narrative revolves around the central character, Mercadet, a speculative businessperson struggling with the weight of his mounting debts while aiming to secure a prosperous marriage for his daughter, Julie. The tension between wealth, poverty, and social expectations plays a critical role as Mercadet navigates between creditors and potential suitors for his daughter. At the start of the play, we are introduced to the Mercadet household, where the servants discuss their fears regarding their master’s financial ruin. As tension builds, Mercadet enters, exhibiting a mix of charm and desperation. He is determined to impress potential creditors through a lavish dinner in hopes of marrying Julie off to a wealthy suitor, the Comte de la Brive, while manipulating his relationships with various creditors. Throughout the unfolding scenes, Mercadet's colorful rhetoric about money and morality highlights his precarious situation as he juggles the needs of his family with the demands of his debtors, setting the stage for comedic and dramatic confrontations ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Comedy plays French drama -- 19th century -- Translations into English https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14246 55634 55634