Characterisation in Emil Zola's Stories

This research investigates Zola's unique adroitness in creation of heroes/heroines in his stories regarding three of his books, entitled" La Curée (Hound's share)", "Masterpiece" and "The Belly of Paris". In the second half of the nineteenth century in France, due to the swift advancements in science, the perspective of authors about story writing was changed and led into more tangible life issues. Emile Zola, as the main protagonist of the naturalism school of thought, exhibited a broad tendency towards realism. Affected by this point of view, the heroes/heroines in Zola's novels are not legendary and larger-than-life like those of the old-time stories, but rather more of ordinary individuals taken from the cross-section of his society. In this respect, Zola depicts the indulgent and decadent society of the second empire according to his observations, hearings, and experiences.