How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
The play-acting involved was long and delicate. Both Thérèse and Laurent had taken on the role that suited them and they went forward with extreme caution, weighing every little word and gesture. Underneath, they were consumed by impatience that wore and stretched their nerves (18. 6)
After Camille's murder, Thérèse and Laurent conspire to convince Mme Raquin and their friends that they should get married. This involves creating a very careful web of lies, so that Michaud ends up thinking it was his own idea that Thérèse should marry Laurent. Ouch, our heads hurt from trying to keep all of these lies straight. We just don't know how these two do it. Oh, that's right, they don't—they kill themselves at the end of the book.
Quote #5
They had killed a man and acted out a frightful piece of play-acting so that they could wallow with impunity in constant gratification of their senses; yet here they were, on either side of the fireplace, rigid, exhausted, their minds troubled and their bodies dead. This outcome struck them as a horrid, cruel farce. (21.7)
After Thérèse and Laurent succeed in convincing everyone that they should get married, they realize that their marriage is a complete farce. Their lies have only given rise to more lies, and their marriage is the biggest lie of them all. Tragic.
Quote #6
She had led a life of affection and gentleness and now, in her last hours, when she was about to take her belief in the simple goodness of life into the grave with her, a voice was shouting that everything was a lie, everything was criminal. (26.18)
After her stroke, Mme Raquin eats up the constant attention. However, when she finds out about her son's murder, Mme Raquin feels as if her whole life has been a lie. We mean, it kind of has. So she decides she can no longer believe in the "goodness of life."