In contrast to Oliver Twist the sense of trouble in Therese Raquin is not introduced by a situation but a description of the environment. Zola uses pathetic fallacy for the majority of the first chapter, “On fine days in the summer, when the streets are burning with heavy sun, whitish light falls from the dirty glazing overhead to drag miserably through the arcade.” This second paragraph illustrates the association between positivity and negativity. The whitish light from summer gives a positive feeling while the misery gives a negative feeling. Even though it is a fine day, the whitish light falls will always carry misery with it. It is hinting that the joy of removing a trouble may be followed or ‘drag’ more troubles along with it. For example, later in the novel Laurent and Therese gets rid of Camille but in return it haunts their relationship.
This association is also made in Oliver Twist, however in a different way. The positive feeling is not emphasized by imageries but the sense of life in characters. Dickens has done this by giving details to characters using speeches, for example, the joy of the surgeon is expressed by, “It’s all over, Mrs. Thingummy!” This technique makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing the situation first handed. Compared to Therese Raquin the characters feelings are not expressed but described only, this makes the reader feel as if they are experiencing the situation second handed.
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Zola uses descriptions of larger locations, slowly narrowing down to a smaller place. The passage to the Arcade of Pont Neuf is followed by the shop’s interior descriptions to introduce the characters. In comparison to Oliver Twist, the baby is introduced before the workhouse location and the characters there during his birth.
In both novels the sufferings by the main female and male characters are very similar. The main female character in Oliver Twist is Oliver’s mother. There is little told about her except the fact that she is dying from exhaustion from the journey to the workhouse and from giving birth to Oliver. The surgeon also discovers that she is not married, “the old story…no wedding ring. I see…” Oliver’s father is unknown leaving the baby to be an orphan and the absence of wedding ring may suggest a poor relationship experienced.
However, in Therese Raquin, Camille’s mother, Mme Raquin does not experience death but his father is of absence as well. In this case, the poor relationship experienced is by another main female character, Camille’s wife Therese. Zola ends the chapter by Therese’s unusual responses, “She cast a vague wandering look upon this wall, without a word…went to bed in disdainful indifference.” Therese has many thoughts before going to bed with her husband, Camille. The indifference of going to bed without joy every night resembles them experiencing a poor relationship.
Therese’s misery is caused by lack of love which may be due to Camille’s sickness. Zola describes in the last paragraph, “The husband who was always trembling with fever went to bed”. By constantly dealing with fever, Camille is unable to take care of his wife or to show any love to her, this may be the reason why a poor relationship exists. Compared to Oliver Twist, there are no signs of concern shown by Oliver’s father as well. Both males are the cause of suffering to the females in the two novels.
In earlier paragraphs an image of Camille is given, “his face covered with red blotches, he resembled a sickly, spoilt child arrived at man hood”. This phrase emphasizes the idea of Camille being physically like a child, however his languid manner showing absence of maturity to marriage also represents his cognitive abilities like a child. In Oliver Twist, the baby is also physically and emotionally like a child, both characters are associated with a sense of ignorance and innocence to the outside world. For example, Camille is unaware of his wife’s wants while Oliver is unaware of his mother’s death. Both characters are unaware of the consequences that their ignorance may bring.
In the endings to both openings, the authors focus on a character to leave the reader with a feeling that something undesirable is going to happen. For example in Therese Raquin, Zola uses Therese, “She remained there a few minutes facing the black wall, which ascends and stretched above the arcade”. As Therese watches the black wall full of thoughts, by having the wall stretched and ascending, it represents her thoughts growing as well which may lead to consequences.
In Oliver Twist, Dickens uses Oliver, “If he could have known that he was an orphan…perhaps he would have cried the louder”. This is an example of Oliver’s ignorance. He is ignorant to the fact that he is an orphan but automatically, this makes the reader think that he will find out soon, therefore a sense of mystery is imposed on the readers.
The introductory chapters have started to unfold part of the story, hinting what is to come by introducing the main characters unfortunate living standards. This idea is effective because usually readers will associate a more joyous life with better living standards. By constantly emphasizing other elements such as poor living conditions the author succeeds in imposing this perspective.
