"Nana"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Emile Zola, a French novelist and critic, was the founder of the Naturalist movement in the world of literature; "Nana", written in 1880, one of Emile Zola's most profound literary works, exposes the true state of prostitution and sexual exploitation in France. The author points out that Zola rightfully examines the nature of his characters by examining a sexually and politically weakened society, a society that in no way tried to help Nana change herself. The paper relates that, throughout the story, the reader becomes well aware of the circumventing characters of Zola's novel and how they exploit one another to gain what they wanted, even though it was evanescent.

From the Paper:

"The book opens by introducing to the audience, Fauchery, a drama critic who is eagerly waiting for his hottest play named "The Blonde Venus" to open in Paris. The play is a conglomeration of bad music and bad actresses in which a new star named Nana is born. Nana appears on the stage in a manner that upholds her audience frenzy. She appears dressed up in diaphanous wraps and escapades the paroxysm caused by her almost nude performance. The author of the novel portrays Nana as a skillful harlot. Through her off scene performance she wins her first lover named Steiner who is a wealthy banker. From here, begins Nana's true escapade of exploiting herself through sex in order to achieve money and a high status among her fellow citizens."

More papers on "Nana":

• Book Review # 108560 : "Emile Zola's "Nana"
• Comparison Essay # 21681 : " Henry James' "The Tragic Muse" and Emile Zola's "Nana"."
• Analytical Essay # 65272 : "Prostitution in Nineteenth-Century Literature"

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