Christopher Booker is a scholar who wrote that every story falls into one of seven basic plot structures: Overcoming the Monster, Rags to Riches, the Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Tragedy, and Rebirth. Shmoop explores which of these structures fits this story like Cinderella’s slipper.
Plot Type : Tragedy
Anticipation Stage
Thérèse is dissatisfied with her boring life at the haberdashery shop with Mme Raquin and Camille. When she meets Laurent, she experiences for the first time the satisfaction of her sexual needs. And a little excitement.
Thérèse's adulterous affair becomes the only source of joy in her otherwise monotonous life. And she's not only in it for the sex; she takes pleasure in deceiving Camille and Mme Raquin by sneaking off with Laurent. Lying has its own appeal.
Dream Stage
When the lovers are prevented from meeting, they conspire to murder Camille.
Thérèse and Laurent resort to murder to remove the obstacles standing in the way of their lusty affair. And by staging Camille's death as an accident, they manage to get away with murder.
Frustration Stage
Thérèse and Laurent eventually get married without arousing any suspicion. But they're unable to have sex. In fact, they become more and more uncomfortable in each other's presence.
After murdering Camille, Thérèse and Laurent not only lose their sexual attraction to each other, they also start fighting more often. A lot more often. Camille's ghost appears and haunts their bedroom every night… or that's what they think is happening, at least.
Nightmare Stage
Things are spiraling way out of control now. The lovers turn against each other in fits of rage and loathing. (Yes, it really is that dramatic.)
Thérèse and Laurent feel nothing good for each other anymore. They both suffer from insomnia because they cannot escape Camille's ghost. So they resort to more and more desperate acts to alleviate their misery.
Destruction or Death Wish Stage
Thérèse decides to murder Laurent to end her suffering, and Laurent decides to do the same.
The lovers are on the verge of murdering each other when they discover each other's motives. Their horror turns to despair, and they decide to commit suicide together… finally putting their suffering to an end.