- 1
Discuss the struggles between Monsieur Hennebeau and his wife.
In a somewhat surprising turn, Zola sets up a tension between Hennebeau and his adulterous wife. Hennebeau's struggle to satisfy and connect with his wife is the main source of misery for him. During the strike, he passes by the settlement and hears the miners making love to their lovers and wishes that he were one of them.
They do not realize, he believes, how lucky they truly are. The disadvantage of holding a "respectable" position in society is that one is not allotted the freedom to do what he wants—especially when it comes to taking sexual liberties. He envies the miners' ability to engage freely in...
Join Now to View Premium Content
GradeSaver provides access to 2368 study guide PDFs and quizzes, 11018 literature essays, 2792 sample college application essays, 926 lesson plans, and ad-free surfing in this premium content, “Members Only” section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.
