Written Assignment #2: Essay on Germinal: Zola's treatment of the family's economy and daily life in the expanding industrial society.

Emile Zola's novel Germinal depicts an unflattering view of the working class in late nineteenth century France. Zola presents a view into the terrible conditions of the working class and shows the hardships of a coal miner named Etienne. The worker is depicted as a slave to his employer who is treated unjust on many occurrences. Food was a pleasure to have and scarce, thanks to the problem of low wages. There were rampant dangers …

…lives of 19th century French coal miners. Forced to endure hellish conditions, risk death and dismemberment, and work from before dawn until after dusk, these men and women had only one alternative to mining: starvation. Germinal is not a happy novel, but it is impossible not to sense the realism that pervades the piece. This work is an example of Zola's technique of "naturalism" attempted through scrupulous research to depict the lives of ordinary people.