Thérèse Raquin

''Thérèse Raquin'' is an 1868 novel by French writer Émile Zola, first published in serial form in the literary magazine ''L'Artiste'' in 1867. It was Zola's third novel, though the first to earn wide fame. The novel's adultery and murder were considered scandalous and famously described as "putrid" in a review in the newspaper ''Le Figaro''.

''Thérèse Raquin'' tells the story of a young woman, unhappily married to her first cousin by an overbearing aunt, who may seem to be well-intentioned but in many ways is deeply selfish. Thérèse's husband, Camille, is sickly and egocentric and when the opportunity arises, Thérèse enters into a turbulent and sordidly passionate affair with one of Camille's friends, Laurent.

In his preface, Zola explains that his goal in this novel was to "study temperaments and not characters". Because of this detached and scientific approach, ''Thérèse Raquin'' is considered an example of naturalism.

''Thérèse Raquin'' was first adapted for the stage as an 1873 play written by Zola himself. It has since then been adapted numerous times as films, TV mini-series, musicals and an opera, among others.

Plot summary

Thérèse Raquin is the daughter of a French sea-captain and an Algerian mother. After her mother's death, her father takes her to live with her aunt, Madame Raquin, and Camille, her valetudinarian son. Because her son is "so ill", Madame Raquin dotes on him to the point of spoiling him, and he is very selfish. Camille and Thérèse grow up side-by-side and Madame Raquin marries them to each other when Thérèse turns 21. Shortly thereafter, Camille decides that the family should move to Paris so he can pursue a career.

Thérèse and Madame Raquin set up shop in the Passage du Pont Neuf to support Camille while he searches for a job. He eventually starts working for the Orléans (except for her eyes), after which Thérèse and Laurent accidentally reveal the murder in her presence during one of their many arguments.

Madame Raquin, previously blissfully happy, is now filled with rage, disgust and horror. During an evening game of dominoes with friends, Madame Raquin manages to move her finger with an extreme effort of will to trace words on the table: " ...". The complete sentence was intended to be "" (Thérèse and Laurent killed Camille). At this point her strength gives out and the words are interpreted as "Thérèse and Laurent look after me very well".

Thérèse and Laurent find life together intolerable. Laurent has started beating Thérèse, something she deliberately provokes in order to distract her from her life. Thérèse has convinced herself that Madame Raquin has forgiven her and spends hours kissing her and praying at the disabled woman's feet. The couple argue almost constantly about Camille and who was responsible for his death, so they exist in an endless waking nightmare. They are being driven to rashly plot to murder each other. At the novel's climax, they're about to kill each other when each realizes the other's plan. They break down sobbing in silent agreement of what they should do next, and reflect on their miserable lives. After a final embrace, they commit suicide by taking poison supplied by Laurent, all in front of the hate-filled, watchful gaze of Madame Raquin.

Characters

* Thérèse Raquin – the eponymous protagonist, is the wife of Camille and the orphaned daughter of Madame Raquin's brother and an unknown African woman.
* Camille Raquin – Thérèse's husband and first cousin.
* Madame Raquin – Camille's mother and Thérèse's aunt. She works as a shopkeeper to support her family.
* Laurent – a childhood friend and coworker of Camille who seduces Thérèse.
* Michaud – the police commissioner and friend of Madame Raquin
* Olivier – Michaud's son who works at the police prefecture
* Suzanne – Olivier's wife
* Grivet – an elderly employee of the Orléans Railroad Company, where Camille works
* François – the Raquins' cat

Themes

Punishment and imprisonment

Throughout the book there are references to chains, cages, tombs and pits. These contribute to the impression that Laurent and Thérèse are in a state of remorse and are plagued by guilt. The book mentions how they are always clawing at the chains that bound them together. The shop that Thérèse owns is compared to a tomb, where Thérèse watches corpses walk by in the day.

Temperaments

In his preface to the second edition, Zola writes that he intended to "study temperaments and not characters". To his main characters, he assigns various humors according to Galen's four temperaments: Thérèse is melancholic, Laurent is sanguine, Camille is phlegmatic and Madame is choleric. For Zola, the interactions of these types of personalities could only have the result that plays out in his plot.

Human beast

Also in his preface, Zola calls both Thérèse and Laurent "human brutes" and the characters are often given animal tendencies. Zola would take up this idea again in his ''La Bête humaine'' (1890).

Literary significance and reception

''Thérèse Raquin'' is generally considered to be Zola's first major work. Upon its release in 1867, ''Thérèse Raquin'' was a commercial and artistic success for Zola; this led to a reprint in book form in 1868. It gained additional publicity when critic Louis Ulbach (pen name: Ferragus) called ''Thérèse Raquin'' "putrid" in a long diatribe for ''Le Figaro''; Zola capitalized on this for publicity and referred to it in his preface to the second edition.

Zola's book provided the clear inspiration for James M. Cain's 1934 novel '' The Postman Always Rings Twice'', which has a similar plot.

Adaptations

Theatrical

Zola adapted the novel into a play, ''Thérèse Raquin'', first staged in 1873. It was not performed in London until 1891, under the auspices of the Independent Theatre Society, since the Lord Chamberlain's Office refused to license it.

Stage productions of Zola's play include:
* 2006 for the Royal National Theatre, London, adaptation written by Nicholas Wright
* 2007 production of the Nicholas Wright adaptation by Quantum Theatre in Pittsburgh; staged in the empty swimming pool of the Carnegie Free Library of Braddock
* 2008 production at Riverside Studios, London, adaptation by Pauline McLynn
* 2009 production at Edinburgh Fringe Festival performed by pupils of the Cheltenham Ladies' College (adapted by Fiona Ross)
* 2014 production touring from Bath, adapted by Helen Edmundson
* 2014 production at Theatre Works, Melbourne, Australia; adapted and directed by Gary Abrahams
* 2015 Edmundson adaptation at the Roundabout Theater at Studio 54 (New York City)
* 2017 revival of the 2014 Gary Abrahams adaption touring Australia nationally

An opera based on the novel was written by the composer Michael Finnissy. Another opera, ''Thérèse Raquin'', by Tobias Picker, opened in 2000.

The novel was made into the Broadway musical '' Thou Shalt Not'', with music by Harry Connick Jr.

The play ''The Artificial Jungle'' by Charles Ludlam was an adaption of the novel, written in the hard-boiled crime style of James M. Cain.

Neal Bell adapted the novel into a play under the same title. It was first produced at New York University by Playwrights Horizons Theatre School on December 3, 1991, directed by Edward Elefterion, with Katie Bainbridge as the title role. Its first professional production was at the Williamstown Theatre Festival on June 30, 1993, directed by Michael Greif, with Lynn Hawley as Thérèse. On July 10, 1994, Michael Greif, in conjunction with La Jolla Playhouse in California, put up the West Coast premiere with Paul Giamatti in the role of Camille. Its professional New York premiere was on October 27, 1997, at the Classic Stage Company, directed by David Esbjornson, with Elizabeth Marvel as Thérèse. The Los Angeles premiere was directed by Charlie Stratton, with Leslie Hope as Thérèse.

A 2014 UK musical, ''Thérèse Raquin'', with music by Craig Adams and book and lyrics by Nona Shepphard, featured Julie Atherton as Thérèse, Tara Hugo as Madame, Jeremy Legat as Camille and Ben Lewis/Greg Barnett as Laurent. After a sold out run at The Finborough Theatre the Theatre Bench production transferred to Park Theatre in Finsbury Park and was nominated for a West End Frame award. A cast recording was released in 2015.

Film and television

Film and television adaptations of the novel include:
* ''Thérèse Raquin'' (1915), Italian silent film, directed by Nino Martoglio
* ''Thérèse Raquin'' (1928), German film
* ''Thérèse Raquin'' (1950), BBC
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