La Peau de chagrin
The representation of women in the "Comédie humaine" is extremely varied — spanning material from both the romantic and pulp traditions — and includes idealized women (like Pauline in "La Peau de chagrin" or Eugénie Grandet), the tragic prostitute Esther Gobsek ("Splendeurs et misères des courtisanes"), the worldly daughters of Goriot and other women in society who can help their lovers advance, the masculine and domineering Cousine Bette, and the alluring and impossible love object (Foedora in "La Peau de chagrin" or the heroine of "La fille aux yeux d'or"). The latter category also includes several lesbian or bisexual characters.