Finally I
can get to where the Rougon-Macquart series starts: The Fortune of the Rougons. The
Rougon-Macquart is Émile Zola’s monumental study on heredity effect on human.
He illustrated it in twenty novels about two families during French Second
Empire. It all begins with Adelaide Fouque, an eccentric woman with mental
illness who lives in Plassans (fictional town). She has one legitimate son from
her marriage with a hardworking peasant: Rougon; and one illegitimate son and
one daughter from the lazy and alcoholic poacher: Macquart.
Although
growing up together with their mother after the fathers died, Pierre Rougon—being
the legitimate child—feels superior to Antoine and Ursule, the Macquarts. Pierre’s
fortune comes from the combination of clever and cunning maneuvers, while
Antoine is too lazy to earn his living. Throughout the story, the two
stepbrothers keep competing each other. On the other hand, Ursule marries a quite
respectful man called Mouret. Her son, Silvère, lives with his grandma
Adelaide. Apart from the eternal hostility between Pierre and Antoine, Silvère’s
pure love for Miette. Pierre’s sons also contribute to the story, mainly
through the trio Eugene the Napoleon’s intelligent, Aristide the left
journalist, and Pascal the doctor and scientist. I believe Pascal represents
Zola himself, the naturalist who was fascinated with how hereditary flaws could
be descended to generations through families.
But what
balances the disgusting acts of the Rougons and the Macquarts, is Silvere and
Miette’s naïve love and heroism. The others’ greed to steal what they can from
the coup d’etat, is counterbalanced by the young couple’s patriotic, though
rather blindly, love for their republic.
The Fortune
turned out to be quite entertaining story—much better than what I’ve expected.
Its naturalism theme is distinguished here, as Pascal’s observation of the
people is really Darwinist. And most interestingly, this book laid the
foundation for the whole Rougon-Macquart series.
Four stars
for Zola!
~~~~~~~~
I read Oxford World’s Classic paperback
This book is counted
for:
9th book for Literary Movement Reading Challenge: Naturalism
4th book for 2015 TBR Pile Challenge
93rd book for The Classics Club Project