The subject of this master thesis is the presentation of Gervaise Macquart, the protagonist of Émile Zola's novel L´Assommoir: her struggle and her descent, due to the rigid conditions in the French society in the second half of the 19th century. Through an extensive analysis of her personality and her function in society as a mother, laundrywoman, wife, lover and finally as an alcoholic, we can discern the main problems of the working class at that time. As the main representative of the literary school of naturalism, Émile Zola had a scientific approach to his work, hence the authenticity of his presentation of the characters, among them Gervaise Macquart. Finally, the thesis resumes the reception of the novel by the public and the critics since its publication until the present times, emphasising its universal, timeless value.
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