– Emile Zola Essay, Research Paper
Zola presents a rapid and powerful development of the affair between Th r se and Laurent. How effective is Zola s portrayal of the encounter between the lovers and what are the changes evident in the previously calm and assured Laurent?
Therese is fascinated by Laurent when he first walks into her life as an adult. She is spellbound by his sheer manliness and animal magnetism. He is strong, muscular and handsome the antithesis of Camille. As Zola writes, Therese had never seen a real man before. Laurent is able to transfix and unsettle her with a single look. It is obvious, right off the bat, that he has the young woman in his power. She sits, slack-jawed and pale, and watches Laurent attentively while he tells his story. He thinks up an excuse to come over to the Raquins more often Therese s reaction to him is intriguing. For the rest of the evening, he ignores her while she trembles with emotion.
Zola describes Therese s reaction physiologically, as he does other characters throughout the book. She cannot understand what it is about Laurent that makes her weak in the knees and constantly nervous around him. She, too, wants to find out more about the interesting stranger. She watches him paint Camille s portrait, oblivious to everything else . A strange force attracts her to him and she is unable to tear herself away. Therese can barely even speak to Laurent when he tries to make conversation; she quivers without knowing why. In describing the encounter in chemical and physiological terms, Zola is excellent. All of her behavioural symptoms of lust are presented in just the cold and objective way the author was aiming for.
Laurent s deliberation over whether or not to take his friend s wife as a mistress is interesting, tense in its vacillation but, ultimately, useless. He is doomed to love her. The situation is set up in a way that Laurent, with all his faults, cannot resist. His psychological addiction to the pleasures of the flesh and his intrinsic laziness draw him inexorably into the affair. Laurent s consideration of the consequences of his actions is but an afterthought, a rationalisation designed to put his mind at ease. With the decision made, he is confident enough to regard the affair as a done deal and let his imagination wander. He knows (or thinks he knows) that he can do what he pleases with her when he desires without fear of persecution.
When Camille s portrait is finished, Laurent finds himself alone with Therese. Neither are sure what to do until they come face to face. He grabs her roughly and she surrenders with only the most fleeting of resistance the act of love, or (more appropriately) lust is silent and brutal. Zola builds up suspense and it is finally released when the two lovers consummate their affair. Without fully understanding what is going inside them, they begin their tumultuous journey.
The lovers see their affair as inevitable and natural. Therese releases the pent-up emotions she has bottled for years in her passionate demonstrations of love, and Laurent satisfies his need for sex. Laurent seems unchanged after the relationship has begun but already he starts seeing Therese as beautiful and looks forward to their meetings more and more. She is growing on him and he feels ill at ease with her total abandon in bed. He has never known a woman who felt so strongly about him and the feeling quickly become mutual. The mere act of being away from her for a week physically pains him. From then on, he bows to her will . The ardour of Therese s love doesn t die down if anything, it increases. His confidence disappears and is replaced by caution and actual fear. Laurent, initially the controller, becomes the controlled as Therese s frenzied zeal takes her past him, to new heights. Slowly, she is taking over Laurent s mind and body but his uneasiness is the only sign that he knows this.
Therese becomes more daring and Laurent settles into his new existence as he realises how blind the people around him are and accepts the intrinsic risks in his quandary. He relaxes and regains his self-assurance. His only fear now is of his newfound bliss coming to an end. Still, his dependence on her is shown when he is forbidden to leave his job and he literally wilts without Therese. He, somehow, has become enslaved by his mistress, completely at her mercy. His initial conviction that this would be just another fling is replaced by the conviction that he cannot live without Therese by his side. Suddenly, Camille s murder seems like a valid and viable option to the adulterers. To Laurent, the husband is the obstacle in the way of his true happiness. He sees Camille s murder as the only way to continue his contented, lazy existence with his lover. So he puts his brutal peasant logic to work on conceiving a suitable accident for a man who is no longer his friend, but a hurdle on his personal track to ecstasy.
Другие работы по теме:
Народні свята та іграшки Німеччини
Реферат на тему: Народні свята та іграшки Німеччини Freimarkt, Бремен Бременське народне свято Freimarkt існує вже 950 років і є, таким чином, одним з найстаріших і традиційних народних гулянь в Німеччині. По цілому місту з 15 по 31 жовтня гостей чекає музика, танці, театралізовані вистави. Це справжня 5-та пора року в Бремені.
Мария-Жозефина Савойская
План Введение 1 Принцесса Савойского Дома 2 Де-юре королева Франции 3 Смерть и похороны Список литературы Введение Мария-Жозефина-Луиза Савойская (фр. Marie-Josйphine-Louise de Savoie, итал. Maria Giuseppina Luisa di Savoia), (2 сентября 1753, Турин, Сардинское королевство — 13 ноября 1810, Хартвелл Хаус, Великобритания) — титулярная королева Франции, жена Людовика XVIII, принцесса Сардинская и Пьемонтская.
Community And Identity In The Works Of
Toni Morrison Essay, Research Paper Finding Community and Identity in Works of Toni Morrison Who re you, outsider? Ask me who am I. -Langston Hughes, Visitors to the Black Belt
Arc De Triomph Essay Research Paper Jeremy
Arc De Triomph Essay, Research Paper Jeremy Crowe Arch de Triomphe The famous Arch de Triomphe was a monument of all the battles Napoleon won during his rein in France. The Arch was dedicated to Paris in 1836. The designer of the Arch was a man named named Jean Francois-Therese Chalgrin. The designer wanted it to be an impresive Arch so he made the arch 165 feet high and 145 feet long.
Celine Dion
’s Life And Career Essay, Research Paper Celine Dion, the youngest of 14 children, was born on March 30th, 1968 in Charlemagne, Quebec, Canada. Charlemagne is on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River, on the east end of the Montreal Island. She has Hazel eyes and is 5 feet 7.5 inches tall. Her qualities are self-determination, professionalism and discipline.
Bilingual Profile Essay Research Paper Christian January
Bilingual Profile Essay, Research Paper Christian January 22,2K1 Bilingual Profile Good afternoon, my name is Christian. I was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico on February 2,1981. I am currently studying my second year at the University of Puerto Rico?s Mayag?ez Campus , and I am pursuing a Bachelor?s degree in Political Science.
The Daughters Of The Cross Essay Research
Paper The Founder Of the woman’s congregation was Jeanne Haze in 1833. Religious reasons such as the cross inspired their lives (160 years ago) to serve all those in need, following in the steps of Jesus.
Virgin Suicides Essay Research Paper In an
Virgin Suicides Essay, Research Paper In an ordinary suburban house, on a lovely tree-lined street, in the middle of 1970s America, lived the five beautiful, dreamy Lisbon sisters, whose doomed fates indelibly marked the neighborhood boys who to this day continue to obsess over them. What happened to the Lisbon sisters is a tale at once darkly funny and deeply poignant, a story of love and repression, fantasy and terror, sex and death, memory and longing.
Narcolepsy Essay Research Paper Miranda was walking
Narcolepsy Essay, Research Paper Miranda was walking down the street and she came to a stoplight, it was red. While she was waiting, somehow she had fallen asleep standing up. This was not the first time for Miranda or others like her, Miranda suffered from a disorder called narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a disorder that causes excessive daytime sleepiness(EDS) and affects more than 200,000 Americans, but can be helped with scheduled naps and drugs such as Provigil and Yohimbine.
The Tenth Man By Graham Greene Essay
, Research Paper The book The Tenth Man by Graham Greene takes place in France in the 1940s during the German occupation of France during the second world war. It starts of in a German prison with the narrator talking about the prisoners singling out two specific characters, the Mayor of Bourge and Pierre an engine driver.
Book Report On A Tale Of Two
Cities Essay, Research Paper A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens List of main characters: — Dr. Alexandre Manette — Lucie Manette, daughter of Alexandre Manette
Life Of Picasso Essay Research Paper Art
Life Of Picasso Essay, Research Paper Art represents beauty. It represents the soul and spirit of the artist. It’s a form of communication that the artist can use as a substitution for words. Art has flourished the world for thousands of years and it has no intentions on stopping. One of “the most important figure’s in modern art” (Selfridge, 15) is a man by the name of Pablo Picasso.
Stigmata Essay Research Paper Is it really
Stigmata Essay, Research Paper Is it really possible for stigmata to occur? Stigmata: A biblical phenomenon when people mysteriously receive the crucifixion wounds of Christ. This stigma has an unexplainable concept that has always baffled both religious and scientific studies. There have been a number of stigmatics that have become famous religious icons.
Comparison Of Mother Figures In Medea And
Mother Courage Essay, Research Paper English World Literature How do Brecht and Zola use language to practice and convey the conventional image of maternal instinct of a mother figure?
Brecht And Zola Use Language To Practice
And Convey The Conventional Image Of Maternal Instinct Essay, Research Paper Bertolt Brecht s Mother Courage and Emile Zola s Therese Raquin are both works with characters that possess maternal instinct. There is not a definite explanation for maternal instinct because it can be viewed differently. Although this is true, there is often a stereotype woman with the right qualities of maternal instinct.
Moral And Immoral Conversions Essay Research Paper
A conversion in the Webster’s Dictionary is described as a change from one belief to another. In the novel A Tale of Two Cities, the acclaimed author Charles Dickens uses his great imaginative power to create a superior artwork in literary terms. A Tale of Two Cities is an in-depth story about the lives of people in the two countries of France and England during the French Revolution.
Picasso And Cubism Essay Research Paper In
Picasso And Cubism Essay, Research Paper In one blinding sweep, art as we know it changed – instead of making things look like they look, artists took it upon themselves to show things as they are, not how they look ( Koshevoy). Pablo Picasso was probably the most famous artist of the twentieth century. During his artistic career, he created thousands of works, not only paintings but also sculptures, prints, and ceramics, using all kinds of materials.
Haydn Essay Research Paper Joseph Haydn was
Haydn Essay, Research Paper Joseph Haydn was without a doubt one of the greatest composers of his day. He was loved very much as both a man and a musician, and unlike many other composers when he died
PredatorPrey Relationships Essay Research Paper The relationship
Predator/Prey Relationships Essay, Research Paper The relationship between predators and their prey is an intricate and complicated relationship; covering a great area of scientific knowledge. This paper will examine the different relationships between predator and prey; focusing on the symbiotic relations between organisms, the wide range of defense mechanisms that are utilized by various examples of prey, and the influence between predators and prey concerning evolution and population structure.
Picasso Essay Research Paper The Biography of
Picasso Essay, Research Paper The Biography of Pablo Picasso Pablo Picasso was born on October 25, 1881 in Maloga, Spain, to Jose Ruiz Blasco, and Maria Picasso. Picasso was a miracle from the start. There were complications with birth and everyone was sure that he was not going to live. Picasso became one of the most well known artists of all time.
Pablo Picasso Essay Research Paper Pablo PicassoA
Pablo Picasso Essay, Research Paper Pablo Picasso A Brief Biography Pablo Ruiz Y Picasso was the most famous artist of the 20th century. He was born on October 25, 1881 in Malaga, Spain. Picasso showed great talent at an early age. He loved to paint pictures of city life and was fascinated by the circus. He also enjoyed painting pictures of the day-to-day life of poor people in his neighbourhood and was also very poor himself.
Cardiac Pacemakers Essay Research Paper CARDIAC PACEMAKERSThe
Cardiac Pacemakers Essay, Research Paper CARDIAC PACEMAKERS The heart is bestowed with a specialized system that automatically generates rhythmic control via the sinus node, located in the superior lateral wall of the right atrium near the opening of the superior vena cava. The specialized pacemaker cells dictate control of the rest of the heart through regular electrical impulses that propagate from the right atria to the lower ventricles.
Work And Labour Essay Research Paper Work
Work And Labour Essay, Research Paper Work and labour have been around forever, although it did not always work to the standards that we are used to today. Over the years, many hard working and deprived people had to fight for the rights that are taken for granted today. Are safety and health involved with work? Is work dangerous for your health? I will try to answer these questions by summarising four short commentaries as well as adding my opinion.
Mother Teresa Essay Research Paper Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa Essay, Research Paper Mother Teresa is a gift from God that has been sent down on Earth to help people who needs her help. She is a well known person throughout the world for devoting her
Essay On Themes Of Tale Of Two
Cities Essay, Research Paper A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens contained many themes that are practiced throughout the book. Two of these themes are altruism and resurrection. The characters Madame Defarge and Sydney Carton are used to exemplify these themes.
The Faith Of Joan Of Arc Essay
, Research Paper Joan of Arc was an exceptional character. The pureness in her heart and the devotion she had to her faith drew me to learn more about her. In every way possible she was a saint. Her life provides inspiration to the rest of the world and teaches us to remain true to the voice of God within ourselves.
Total Quality Management Essay Research Paper What
Total Quality Management Essay, Research Paper What is Total Quality Management? Quality is not determined or defined by the producing company. Quality is determined by the customer. Thus quality of a product or a service is the customer?s perception of the degree to which the product or service meets his or her expectations.
A Tale Of Two Cities Essay Research
Paper A tale of two cities A Tale of two Cities In the fictitious novel Tale of Two Cities, the author, Charles Dickens lays out a brilliant plot. Charles Dickens was born in England on February 7, 1812 nears the south coast. His family moved to London when he was ten years old and quickly went into debt. To help support him, Charles went to work at a blacking warehouse when he was twelve.
Witchcraft In British History Essay Research Paper
WITCHCRAFT IN BRITISH HISTORY “European witchcraft was a unique phenomenon which differed from European high magic from the low magic or simple sorcery” (Russel 658). “High magic and simple sorcery differ however in methods and motivation” (658). High magic was astrology and alchemy (658). Sorcerers are usually people that are motivated by strong feelings of jealously, revenge, malice which are experienced by everyone (Marwich 3042). “More supernatural are witches who are slaves of aberration and addiction that are consideration weird” ( 3041). “The word witch derives from the Old English noun wicca ’sorcerer’, and the verb wiccian ‘to cast the spell’.” The term does not really have a sinister meaning to it.
Henry VIII And Louis XIV Essay Research
Paper Henry VIII and Louis XIV Henry VIII and Louis XIV were both men whose accomplishments on a national level for their respective countries of England and France were great,
La valeur stilistique des pronoms
Le substantive. L’aspect stylistique du substantive. L’article. La substantivation. L’article, l’adjectif, le verbe, la substantivation. La valeur stylistique des formes verbales. Les pronoms. Le francais parle et les modalites. Notions preliminaires