The Vicar of Tours

"The Vicar of Tours" by Honoré de Balzac is a story set in the 1800s, about Abbe Birotteau, a heavy-set priest dealing with gout, who dreams of moving up in the church and living comfortably. The key conflict is between Birotteau and Mademoiselle Gamard, his landlady, who is shown as a jealous and vengeful person in the house they share. From the beginning, Birotteau is unhappy with his situation, worrying about his health and dreaming of a promotion while living in Gamard's house. The story suggests that Gamard resents Birotteau and is manipulating their living situation. As the story continues, Birotteau starts to understand these conflicts, all while he naïvely chases his ambitions in a provincial town filled with envy.