Stagerring creatures: Water paradigm in Emile Zola

Abstract

In Zola’s works, water is one of the most important paradigms shaping his protagonists. The presence of this paradigm sets apart water lovers from water haters. What is most important and will be proven in this analysis is that water, seen as an unmasking element, attributes a permanent feature to both groups. As a result, we come up with the distinction between strong water lovers and weak water haters. Most of Zola’s protagonists pertain to the weak water haters; they are staggering creatures who suffer from an existential headache. Feeling lost, they desperately seek for a balance in the meanders of life; trying to find their identity.