Thérèse Raquin (Annotated Edition)

Emile Zola's short novel Thérèse Raquin traces the complete life's story of its title character: her childhood defined by confinement and resentment; her adulthood marked by passion and deception; and finally the murder, violence, and suicide of her last years. Orphaned at an early age, Thérèse was raised by her protective aunt, a shopkeeper named Mme Raquin. The young girl's only real companion was her sickly cousin Camille, a lazy young man adored by his mother. When Camille and Mme Raquin relocate to Paris, Thérèse follows along. And when Mme Raquin engineers a marriage between Thérèse and Camille, Thérèse blankly accepts, resigning herself to a future of boredom. Thérèse's life is turned upside-down by the appearance of Laurent, Camille's strong and independent friend. A man addicted to sensual pleasures, Laurent decides to take Thérèse as his lover. The young woman assents, and a vivifying, satisfying affair ensues between the emotional Thérèse and the hearty Laurent. When it becomes clear that this liaison cannot continue - since their secret meetings distracts from Laurent's office job - Laurent and Thérèse decide to murder Camille and marry. Together, Laurent, Thérèse, and Camille go on a boating excursion on the Seine river. Laurent chokes Camille and hurls him into the water, and stages this act of violence so that it looks like a freak accident. He executes all this with Thérèse's tacit consent.