Zola was a prominent figure in the literary movement of naturalism, which aimed to portray life realistically and often focused on the lower classes and their struggles. His novels, known for their gritty realism and social critique, explored how social conditions, particularly poverty and the harsh realities of urban life, shaped individual destinies.
Some of Zola's most famous novels that exemplify this theme include:
* Germinal (1885): This novel portrays the harsh lives of coal miners in Northern France and the social injustices they face.
* L'Assommoir (1877): This novel follows the life of a working-class woman in Paris and her descent into alcoholism and poverty.
* La Terre (1887): This novel explores the lives of peasants in rural France and their struggle against the forces of nature and society.
Zola's novels often depict characters who are trapped by their circumstances and unable to escape the cycle of poverty and hardship. He believed that social conditions were the primary determinants of individual fate, and his works aimed to expose the injustices of society and advocate for social change.