"Thérèse Raquin" by Émile Zola is a novel written during the late 19th century. The story revolves around the life of Thérèse, a passionate woman caught in a suffocating environment, raised alongside her sickly cousin Camille, whom she eventually marries. The novel explores themes of love, desire, and moral conflict in a world characterized by oppressive social norms. The opening of "Thérèse Raquin" introduces the gloomy setting of the passage du Pont-Neuf
in Paris, a narrow and dark corridor where the characters live and work. We meet Thérèse, who is depicted as an indeterminate figure in her aunt's mercery, overshadowed by her cousin Camille's frailty. The descriptions set a bleak tone, highlighting Thérèse's inner turmoil and her desire for a life beyond the constraints imposed by her family. As we are introduced to their home life, it becomes clear that Thérèse is burdened by a yearning for freedom and passion, laying the groundwork for the intense emotional and physical struggles that will unfold as the story progresses. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
