Madame Raquin

"Madame Raquin" is a novel by Émile Zola about a woman named Madame Raquin who is trapped in a joyless marriage with her sickly husband, Laurent. Their lives are routine and constrained, and they seek excitement through an affair between Laurent and Madame Raquin’s friend, Camille. When they kill Camille to be together, guilt and shame lead to psychological torment and obsession. The story explores themes of natural instincts, guilt, and the destructive power of suppressed emotions. It offers a gritty, realistic glimpse into human passions and consequences, emphasizing how repressed desires can lead to tragic outcomes.