The Ladies’ Paradise

by

Émile Zola

Colomban is Baudu’s shop assistant and Geneviève’s fiancé. Baudu thinks that Colomban is the last survivor of the old ways of business—loyal, hardworking, and traditional. In reality, Colomban lusts after Clara Prunaire (whom he can see through the window across the street at the Ladies’ Paradise) and is not sensitive to the sacrifices that Baudu and Geneviève are making for him. Colomban eventually runs away with Clara, following in the footsteps of his father, who led an infamously promiscuous life.

Colomban Quotes in The Ladies’ Paradise

The The Ladies’ Paradise quotes below are all either spoken by Colomban or refer to Colomban . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Consumerism and Excess Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

It was true, it was stealing everything from them: from the father, his money; from the mother, her dying child; from the daughter, a husband for whom she had waited ten years.

Related Characters: Baudu , Madame Baudu , Geneviève Baudu , Colomban , Clara Prunaire
Related Symbols: The Ladies’ Paradise
Page Number: 231
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Ladies’ Paradise PDF

Colomban Quotes in The Ladies’ Paradise

The The Ladies’ Paradise quotes below are all either spoken by Colomban or refer to Colomban . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Consumerism and Excess Theme Icon
).
Chapter 8 Quotes

It was true, it was stealing everything from them: from the father, his money; from the mother, her dying child; from the daughter, a husband for whom she had waited ten years.

Related Characters: Baudu , Madame Baudu , Geneviève Baudu , Colomban , Clara Prunaire
Related Symbols: The Ladies’ Paradise
Page Number: 231
Explanation and Analysis: