Emile Zola's "Ladies Paradise"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, with the character of Denise Baudau, a lowly worker, Emile Zola presents in "Ladies Paradise" a somewhat skewed vision of the struggle between the sexes with this protagonist ultimately obtaining her goal to marry the less than admirable but higher ranked Monsieur Mouret. The author points out that advertising in the days of this novel worked the same way as today: To create a need by implying that women have some defective quality and promising that their product will make them more beautiful. The paper relates that Zola observes that women come to equate the products with their sexuality with its sensual allure festering and growing until they become an addiction for the women that they must have the products at all costs.

From the Paper:

"Consequently, a raging competition ensues and the ladies compete with each other for customers and the attention of Mouret. The shop girls are forced to dress in a certain way in order to be successful, which is by pleasing Mouret and garnering his attentions. If they can garner Mouret's attentions, a shop girl will have the great honor of exchanging sexual favors for the right to do as she pleases at the department store, as Clara Prunaire does. As long as the shop girl can keep Mouret pleased, she is protected from being sacked."

More papers on Emile Zola's "Ladies Paradise":

• Analytical Essay # 5550 : "Emile Zola's "The Ladies Paradise"
• Book Review # 103740 : "The Ladies' Paradise"
• Analytical Essay # 5479 : "Emile Zola's "Au Bonheur des Dames"

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