Paris, heterogenous and immense character (geocriticism of the river Seine in Zola’s work)

Abstract

Emile Zola's work is filled with descriptions of the urban spaces of Paris. This is crossed by the Seine, which will be the main subject of this article. To analyse the Seine, the geocritical method will be explained and applied, along with other theories of literary space. In order to reveal the face of Zola's Paris, a multi-faceted look will be taken at the three novels (La Curée, L'Assommoir, Au Bonheur desDames) and other texts written by Zola (correspondence, newspaper articles and Carnets d'enquête). The aim of this article is to look at Zola's perception of the Seine in order to show how the author demonstrates the diversity of the world and its consequences.