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Motifs
Definition of Pathos
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Pathos is an argument that appeals to... read full definition
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective speaking or writing). Pathos is... read full definition
Pathos, along with logos and ethos, is one of the three "modes of persuasion" in rhetoric (the art of effective... read full definition
Chapter 1
Explanation and Analysis—Weeping Old Store:
Invoking the reader’s sense of pathos and employing personification, Zola emphasizes the stark juxtaposition between Baudu's old shop and the bustling department store. As Denise, Jean and Pépé watch, they notice that:
Now and again a few customers came in: one lady appeared, then two others. The shop retained its musty smell, its half-light, in which the old-fashioned way of business, good-natured and simple, seemed to be weeping at its neglect. But what fascinated Denise was the Ladies’ Paradise on the other side of the street, for she could see the shop-windows through the open door. The sky was still overcast, but the mildness brought by rain was warming the air in spite of the season; and in the clear light, dusted with sunshine, the great shop was coming to life, and business was in full swing .
Baudu’s shop is a pitiful sight. With its "musty smell" and "half-light," it feels abandoned and obsolete. This atmosphere evokes a feeling of nostalgia and sadness in the reader for the fading "old-fashioned way of business." Although the bright façade of The Ladies’ Paradise is appealingly modern and clean, Baudu’s “good-natured and simple” shop seems cruelly neglected. In moments like this, Zola engages the reader's emotions urgently. He makes them feel the plight of Baudu's shop and the people who represent the "old world" struggling to survive in the shadow of department store culture.
Personifying Baudu's shop as a being that can "weep at" its own neglect further heightens the emotional impact this passage has on the reader. It transforms the shop from a mere physical space into a thinking, feeling entity that suffers when it is abandoned. This personification suggests that the shop—much like the smaller shopkeepers it represents—feels the pain of being pushed aside by the new, modern age.
This provocative scene seems even grayer and more dismal through the description of The Ladies' Paradise that immediately follows. The new store’s "clear light, dusted with sunshine" and the description of it "coming to life" are the opposite of Baudu’s dying establishment.
Related Themes:
Chapter 5
Explanation and Analysis—Cold, Pathetic, Lonely:
In Chapter 5, Zola appeals to the reader’s sense of pathos as he describes Denise’s miserable existence while working at The Ladies’ Paradise. The detailed depiction of her struggles given here is designed to elicit a strong emotional response from the reader:
Such was her life now: she had to smile, put on a charming, gracious manner, and wear a silk dress which didn’t even belong to her; ill-fed and ill-treated, she suffered agonies of fatigue, in continual fear of being brutally dismissed. Her room was her only refuge, the only place where she would still give way to tears when she’d suffered too much during the day. But a terrible coldness came from the zinc roof when it was covered with December snow; she had to curl up in bed, pile all her clothes on top of her, and cry under the blanket so that her face didn’t get chapped from the frost. Mouret no longer spoke to her.
The passage describes the painful disconnect between the pretty, friendly face Denise must put on to work at the department store and her constant terror of being thrown out and becoming destitute. Denise's life is a constant battle to maintain a facade of charm and grace, despite her suffering. It’s implied that if she allowed any of her misery to show, she would lose her job and suffer far more greatly.
The detail about clothing Zola adds—that Denise must wear a silk dress that doesn't belong to her during working hours— adds to the passage’s sense of her being out of place and uncomfortable in her own skin. The dress represents the luxury and opulence of the store, which Denise can observe but can’t enjoy. It’s also a constant reminder of the disparity between the store's ease and luxury and Denise's personal hardships.
The description of her living conditions further intensifies the sense of pathos being invoked here. Her bed, her “only refuge” from the demanding and often cruel environment of the store, offers little comfort. The vivid image of her crying under her blankets and piling clothes on top of her to stave off the cold from the thin zinc roof is heart-wrenching. The reader can’t help but feel sorry for her. As if this weren’t enough, Mouret no longer speaking to her adds another layer to her isolation. The reader feels her sense of utter despair and abandonment as she tries to weather this impossible situation.
Related Themes:
