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Metaphors
Definition of Mood
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect of a piece of writing... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes in the reader. Every aspect... read full definition
The mood of a piece of writing is its general atmosphere or emotional complexion—in short, the array of feelings the work evokes... read full definition
Mood
Explanation and Analysis:
The mood of The Ladies’ Paradise is as dynamic and changeable as 19th-century Paris was itself. It reflects the subject of the book, and its ups and downs reflect the experiences of Zola’s characters.
Early in the novel, the reader feels awe and a sense of grand spectacle as Zola introduces the reader to The Ladies' Paradise department store. The descriptions of the store's size, variety of goods, and the bustle of activity are designed to impress. With Denise, the reader stands in a wet, gray Parisian street and stares at the opulent rainbow of colors behind the store windows. However, even in these early stages, there’s foreshadowing that the store has sinister undertones, and hinting at the hardships and challenges that the rise of such a retail giant will bring.
As the narrative progresses, the mood shifts to reflect the anxieties and struggles its protagonist Denise experiences. The reader, who has been aware of her fear about the future from the beginning of the work, begins to grow truly concerned for her as she’s forced to give up principles that were important to her and is treated unkindly by those around her. Interspersed with these feelings of anxiety and injustice are moments of loss and nostalgia for "old Paris," the Paris before the rise of “The Ladies' Paradise” and its transformation of the landscape. These moments make characters from Denise to Bourdoncle feel conflicted, as the excitement about the city’s new developments and the store's success contrasts with grief for what it is replacing.
When the department store is bustling with activity, the mood becomes energetic and invigorating, capturing the store's lively atmosphere and the allure of the new consumer culture. There are moments where the reader is swept into the glamorous vision of swirling silk, fur, jewels, and velvet the store promises. However, this mood is juxtaposed with the harsh realities of poverty and unfairness. This is particularly true in the middle of the novel, when Denise loses her position and is plunged into an abject struggle to survive. The reader feels the weight of her fight to keep her head above water, their anxiety building as the narrative progresses. By the end of the novel, the mood is one of qualified relief. Even during dramatic moments like Mouret's proposal, the reader is left with feelings of uncertainty and perhaps even a sense of contempt.
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