The novel "Germinal" Zola - one of his works, included in the cycle "Rugon-Makkara." It was first published in 1885. It is interesting that among the working versions of the name were: “Rotten roof”, “House is cracking”, “Bloody shoots”, “Breath of the future”, “Underground fire”. Its final name is a reference to the first spring month of the French Revolution Germinal.
Summary
Roman "Germinal" Zola begins with the fact that the mechanic Etienne Lantier is trying to get a job in the Monsoux mine. Earlier, he was fired from the railroad for a slap in the head. But there is no work there, the miners themselves are sitting without food. But Etienne is found a place, because the eater died on the eve. He enters the artel to the slaughterer May, whose daughter Katrina works as the second hauler.
In the novel "Germinal" by Emil Zola , this hard and ungrateful work is described. Katrina is only 15 years old, she constantly looks exhausted. Mae and other experienced artisans work lying down, crawling into the mine high about half a meter, in the face it is very stuffy.
Etienne and Katrina ride the trolleys. On the first day, the protagonist realizes how hard this work is. In addition, right in front of him, the leadership scolded the miners for not caring about their safety. In response, no one is outraged. Etienne even wants to leave, but the memories of Katrina stop him.
Mae Sami live in poverty, owe everything to everyone, often there is not enough money for bread. Wife Mahe goes with her children to the estate of Piolen, which belongs to the co-owners of the mines Gregoire. They occasionally help the poor. This time, the owners find signs of degeneration in May and her children, instead of helping, they give a lesson in frugality. Parisians who came to inspect the mines admire the generosity of the owners of the company, who give workers cheap housing and supply coal to all families.
Washing becomes a real holiday for miners. The whole Mae family is plunged into a barrel once a week, and then changes into clean clothes. Katrina begins to harass Chaval, she resists, recalling her feelings for Etienne, but not for long. In addition, Chaval buys her tape and takes possession of it in the barn.
Passion for revolutionary ideas
The main character of the Germinal E. Zola Etienne eventually gets used to everything that happens here. He is indignant only with the love between Chaval and Katrina, since he himself is unknowingly jealous of the girl.
He meets the Russian engineer Suvarin. He says little about himself, so Etienne did not immediately find out that he had met with a socialist-populist. Suvarin fled from Russia, now works at the mine. Etienne decides to confess his friendship with one of the leaders of the local labor movement Plyushar, a supporter of Marxism and the International. Suvarin is skeptical of them. His ideals are terror, anarchy and revolution, the destruction of the old world by any means.
Etienne begins to prepare a strike, for a start it is necessary to collect a mutual assistance fund. In August, he moved to Mahe, trying to captivate the head of the family with his ideas. He even begins to believe in success, but his wife says that the bourgeois will never want to work like miners, and all talk of equality is nonsense. Mahe's notions of justice come down to the desire to live. After all, his already low earnings are constantly being reduced due to fines on any pretext. The upcoming next reduction is a good reason for the strike.
Strike
Summary of the “Germinal” Zola will help you quickly recall this work, refresh the main events in your memory. When Mahe again receives reduced salaries, she is also rewarded for talking about politics. At the same time, in the new section of the mine, where the cartel operates, it is becoming more dangerous. There is a collapse in which the youngest son Mahe Janlen breaks both legs. After that, the heroes of Zerminal Zola understand that they need to go on strike, there’s nothing more to lose.
Director Enbo learns that no one went to work. Etienne with friends gather a delegation to start negotiations. Miners require that they add a fee for trolleys for only five sous. Enbo is trying to provoke a split among his comrades, he says that they were suggested, but in reality none of the workers is a member of the International.
Etienne begins to argue with Enbo, as a result of directly threatening that the workers may resort to other measures in order to defend their rights. The board does not make concessions, making the miners even more hardened. No one has money in the village, but Etienne calls to fight to the last. Plyushar promises to help with money, but constantly lingers.
At the meeting, the owner of the tavern Rasner calls for an end to the strike, but the miners trust Etienne. The assembly is trying to disperse the police, but the widow warns the workers, they manage to disperse. Meanwhile, the board of mines decided to fire the most stubborn and instigators.
Miners Meetings
Over time, Etienne turns into the most influential person in the mining environment, crowding out their previous leader Rasner, who was very cunning. At the next meeting, which is now taking place in the forest, an old man nicknamed Immortal recalls his unsuccessful experience of protests, when several of his friends died a few decades ago, but did not achieve anything.
Etienne passionately acts, as a result, the miners again decide to extend the strike. The entire company operates only a mine in Jean Bart. The local workers are called traitors, promising to teach a lesson. In Jean Bart, miners from Monsoue chopped ropes, forcing coal miners to surface. There are Chaval and Katrina, who now have to go out. Between strikers and strikebreakers a fight begins. When company executives call in the army and police, workers take on the destruction of the mines.
Rebellion is gaining strength
In the novel "Germinal" by Emil Zola, the uprising is rapidly spreading to other mines. The crowd begins to sing "Marseillaise", goes to Mons. Enbo is perplexed, and the miners take to rob the shop of Megra, who is dying, trying to save at least something.
The gendarmes leads Chaval, Katrina at the last moment manages to warn Etienne about this. Soldiers and police are stationed in the mines, but no one returns to work. The strike continues to spread. Finally, comes to a direct clash of Chaval with Etienne, who is jealous of Katrina. The main character of the novel "Germinal" Zola wins, taking the opponent to flight.
Clashes
Jeannin recovered after an injury, limps on both legs, but manages to run very quickly and shoot from a sling. He dreams of killing a soldier, somehow brings his plan to life. He jumps from behind on the military, inflicts a mortal blow with a knife.
Clashes between authorities and strikers then become inevitable. Soldiers get to use weapons only in the most extreme case, soon the first shots are heard. Miners throw bricks and mud at their opponents, while the military opens fire in response. Almost immediately, two children were killed - Beber and Lydia. Etienne Muketta, in love with Tussen Mahe, also dies.
Internal crisis
Workers are depressed and scared. At this time, representatives of the city authorities come to Mons. Etienne feels guilty for the death of these people, power again seizes Rasner, who agrees to a truce.
Etienne meets with Suvarin, who tells him about his wife, she was hanged in Moscow. Suvarin himself goes to the mines, to which the workers agreed to return, files a casing clip that protected the mine from the underground sea.
The next morning, Etienne finds out that Katrina is going to go to the mine. He succumbs to a momentary rush, goes to see her. By evening, the flood breaks through the casing, water breaks to the surface. Etienne, Chaval, Katrina and Muck remain at the bottom of the mine.
In mine
Heroes are trying to escape, being in the water on the chest. They get out into a dry mine, and then wander through the underground labyrinths. Here the final clash between Chaval and Etienne takes place.
In reviews of the Germinal by Emil Zola, readers and critics have always noted that this is one of the key scenes of the work. During the fight, Etienne smashes his opponent’s head. Then, together with Katrina, he scrapes a bench in the rock, on which they sit under a stream of stones rushing along the bottom of the mine.
They spend three days underground, waiting for death, but at the last moment the rescue operation is completed successfully. Hearing the sounds of the workers who make their way to them, they unite in the first kiss. After this, Katrina falls into unconsciousness, and when the rescuers reach them, she is already dead.
The final
Recovering from these events, Etienne leaves the village. In all the mines that recently rebelled, work is already in full swing. Etienne thinks that the deaf blows of Kyle in the distance accompany literally every step he takes.
Reviews about Zerminal Zola were mostly always admired, some thought it was one of the best works in the author’s work.