House of All Nations: Analysis of Major Characters
"House of All Nations" is a narrative that delves into the intricate dynamics of a Parisian bank and its diverse cast of characters, each representing varying perspectives on finance, morality, and ambition. Central to the story is Michel Alphendéry, a principled Marxist economist who grapples with the moral implications of his work at the Banque Mercure. Jules Bertillon, the bank's owner, is characterized by his gambler's instincts and a cynical view of finance, driven by a desire for wealth despite the ethical dilemmas involved. His older brother, William, offers a contrasting image of steadfast loyalty and familial affection, managing the bank's operations while harboring secrets of his own.
The narrative also explores the ambitions of Henri Leon, a successful grain trader whose obsession with wealth complicates his personal relationships, particularly with his love interest, Margaret Weyman. Aristide Raccamond represents the ambitious underbelly of the finance world, eager to climb the social ladder despite his less-than-honorable tactics. Jacques Carriere, a society bachelor, embodies jealousy and rivalry, aiming to outmaneuver Jules in a risky bet that threatens the bank's stability. Through these characters, "House of All Nations" examines the interplay of personal integrity, ambition, and the moral challenges faced within a capitalist framework, offering a rich tapestry of human motivations and conflicts.
House of All Nations: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Christina Stead
First published: 1938
Genre: Novel
Locale: Paris and its suburbs, London, and Amsterdam
Plot: Social satire
Time: 1931
Michel Alphendéry (mee-SHEHL ahl-fehn-day-REE), the technical economics expert at the Bertillon bank, considered by all who know him to be a brilliant man. He is a Marxist and is thought by the banking people to be an idealist and a utopian. Even more surprising to them, Alphendery is honest: He has a limited power of attorney for the bank, allowing him to buy and sell, sign checks, and make decisions, but he never steals or cheats. Although he dislikes the chicanery of the financiers, Alphendery continues working for Jules Bertillon out of loyalty, affection, and inertia, and because he needs money to support his mother and his estranged wife, Estelle, who is unfaithful to him. Alphendery's father was a lawyer and a small banker, and the son has been in finance since he was a small boy. Alphendery would like to make his fortune and get out of banking, but his big chance, in a grain deal with Leon and Jules, is ruined when Jules tries to manage the deal his way and bungles it.
Jules Bertillon (zhewlz behr-tee-YOHN), the real owner and policymaker of the Banque Mercure, a private bank in Paris. A fragile-looking, tall, elegantly dressed young man, Jules has the instincts of a gambler, and he makes fortunes for himself at Deauville (by betting on the horses) and on the stock exchange. Speculative and daring, Jules thinks that he can always make money. Jules is cynical, saying that a bank is a confidence trick. Alphendery says that Jules is a financial genius, bound to live and die rich. Most of the bank's clients are rich because Jules does not want to bother with the small fry or listen to them cry about losses. In an atmosphere of world depression, Jules wants to make money, betting on disaster. At one point, Jules says that William, Alphendery, and he should take the clients' 160 million francs and abscond, but Alphendery talks him out of the idea. Jules supports his wife, Claire-Josephe, his children, and most of his idle brothers.
William Bertillon, Jules's older brother, a tall, blond, plump, and staid man. He looks as if he is never troubled by a thought and he pretends to take no notice of the clients in the bank, but he listens to gather information. He nags Jules, but he has a single-minded affection for his brother. He will not hear a word against Jules from anyone else, and he will stand by his brother in the face of trouble. William has formed the Five Brothers Simla Company as a nest egg for the family, although it is a secret from Jules. When Jules is away, leading the life of the idle rich, William manages the banking routine. William holds Alphendery in true affection because of the employee's loyalty to Jules.
Henri Leon (ahn-REE lay-OHN), who sometimes does business with the Bertillons. He is one of the most brilliant grain traders and option placers on the Continent. Leon has clear brown eyes and long black hair brushed over his mostly bald skull. Short, with a gorilla's chest and dressed in flashy suits, Leon nevertheless gives off the image of power, wealth, and the ability to make money. He is proud of the number of women with whom he has slept and is obsessed with money-making. He falls in love with Margaret Weyman, a calculating American, and sets her up in an apartment. Uncharacteristically, he puts money in a trust for her, and he gives her a generous allowance for living expenses. Leon respects Alphendery's financial sense and his way with words, so Leon always asks Alphendery to compose letters for him, trying to get French and British state honors. In his early days, Julius Kratz was Leon's crony, but they later became bitter enemies.
Aristide Raccamond (ah-rihs-TEED rah-kah-MOHN), a Paris stock exchange runner who is always trying to worm his way into the inner circle of the Banque Mercure and to profit from its dealings. Ambitious, energetic, and envious, Raccamond has a sensually rounded body and a solemn, melancholy face. He used to be the office manager and secretary for Leon. Jules considers him unlucky and a bother. Raccamond is pushed to achieve by his plain wife, Marianne, who says that there is nothing in life except money.
Jacques Carriere (zhahk kahr-YEHR), a conceited and impudent young society bachelor, an acquaintance of Jules who frequents the bank. Alphendery says that Carriere is completely rotten, with no sound spot. Challenging Jules, Carriere bets him that England will not go off the sterling silver standard; if Jules loses, he will guarantee payments to Carriere for approximately three years. Jules agrees to pay 122 francs to the British pound, to the sum of 25,000 pounds every four months, a ruinous agreement. Carriere's lawyer makes the agreement even more unfair through substitute wording. The rumor in England is that Carriere will bleed Jules to death. Carriere's motivation is that he is jealous of Jules, whom he sees as fertile, while he sees himself as formless and unable to conceive properly.
Adam Constant (ah-DAHM kohn-STAHN), one of the bank's tellers, a Marxist and Alphendery's friend. At twenty-four years of age, convinced that his life will be short, he wants to go to China to join the Red Army. Instead, Jules sends him to England to set up an English branch of Bertillon's, the Leadenhall Securities Guarantee Corporation.
Jean Frere (zhahn frehr), another of Alphendery's Marxist friends, one who writes articles and book reviews for the Workers'Almanac. Frere lives in the country, where he has a garden. To some extent, Frere acts as Alphendery's socialist conscience. Alphendery does not want to embezzle money with Jules partly because of what Frere will think. Alphendery says that when Frere gives him some advice, after about a month Alphendery finds himself taking it.
Richard Plowman, the former head, now retired, of the Timor and Arafura Banking Corporation. He is the closest friend of Jules Bertillon. Richard has a sweet and obliging nature and frequently does favors for friends. The perfect Englishman, he has a long oval face, gray hair, and kind blue eyes. In and out of the bank at all hours, he was one of Jules's first believers.
Daniel Cambo, a wealthy man with a fortune of half a million guilders. He explains to the bankers that he is going into the bazaar business, selling unwanted goods. He will make money from other people's mistakes, from their bankruptcies and bad business judgments. He will deal in human dreck, not in dreck goods.
Davigdor Schicklgruber (DAH-veeg-dohr SHIH-kehl-grew-behr), a Rhineland Jew who resembles the ideal Aryan: blond, blue-eyed, tall, and well-muscled. He seems to be a fool, interested only in chasing women, but he works for Lord Zinovraud, a Scottish peer and multimillionaire. Like many others, Davigdor is a friend of Alphendery, partly because Alphendery gave him a good financial tip that helped Davigdor impress Lord Zinovraud. Davigdor is loyal to the Scottish peer because he expects to be remembered in his will.