Protagonist

Character Role Analysis

Thérèse

Thérèse may not be the most likeable female character in all of literature-land, but she is certainly one of the more fascinating adulteresses: likeable sometimes, awful the rest of the time.

When we first see her as a young wife, she is forced to hide her fiery nature behind a cold mask of passivity. It's hard not to feel sympathetic toward her, especially when Mme Raquin and Camille treat her as if she doesn't even exist.

We also find ourselves rooting for her when she meets Laurent. Her transformation into a sexually liberated woman sure beats living like a zombie in the haberdashery shop.

But it's hard to really identify with Thérèse during other moments. This is mainly because we aren't told much about her motives or the inner workings of her mind and heart. Instead, we know her through Zola's scientific perspective.

And if we're looking at Thérèse as a "specimen," it's not so surprising that we feel alienated from her. We like to think of ourselves as people here at Shmoop—not objects of study. (Most days.)

Laurent

Laurent definitely isn't your typical protagonist. When he's first introduced, he comes off as a self-indulgent, arrogant brute. He decides to initiate an affair with Thérèse mostly out of boredom, and also murders Camille for his own selfish interests.

But his affair with Thérèse and Camille's death really transform the guy. After being exposed to Thérèse's fiery "nerves," Laurent develops a nervous temperament, which is what allows him to become a great artist.

Granted, he can only paint the same face over and over again, but the narrator does tell us that he has become an artistic genius.

As with Thérèse, though, Zola doesn't give us much insight into Laurent's mind. So it's hard for us to really understand him. Like he reportedly doesn't feel guilty for murdering Camille—even though he goes totally crazy by the end of the novel.

Mysteries, mysteries.