The issue of language becomes extremely important in the second half of Thérèse Raquin. For one thing, after the murder of Camille, Laurent and Thérèse are described as having an almost telepathic ability to read one another's minds. But an even more significant event occurs late in the novel: Mme Raquin's stroke and subsequent loss of speech. When Mme Raquin loses her ability to speak, she is not only unable to communicate to others, but her sense of identity changes drastically.
Questions About Language and Communication
- Why are Thérèse and Laurent able to read each other's thoughts after Camille's murder? What are they each thinking about?
- What happens to Mme Raquin's identity after she loses her ability to communicate to others?
- How does Mme Raquin adapt to her loss of speech?
- How is Zola's emphasis on the animal side of humans related to the theme of language loss?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Mme Raquin is treated like an inanimate object when she loses her ability to speak.
François the cat, an animal who has the ability to speak (in Laurent's eyes), can be seen as the polar opposite of the paralyzed Mme Raquin, a human who has lost her speech.