How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Their whole beings were ready for violence; the slightest impatience and the most ordinary annoyance were enlarged in their unhinged organisms in some strange way, suddenly becoming heavily charged with brutality. [...] There were frightful scenes, breathtaking furies, blows, foul cries, and shameful acts of brutality. (28.6)
Thérèse and Laurent succumb to brutalizing each other as a way of distracting themselves from the horror of Camille's death. Violence even becomes a source of pleasure and relief for them… But it's a terrible cycle. In this book, each act of violence seems only to beget more violence. Maybe there's a moral in all of this science after all.
Quote #8
Thérèse used all her venom to intensify the cruelty of this torture that she was inflicting on Laurent in order to protect herself. [...] Constantly running up against the man he had killed, the murderer came to feel an odd sensation that almost drove him mad: through being so often compared to Camille [...], he came to think that he was Camille; he identified with his victim. His brain was bursting, so he would rush at his wife to make her quiet [...]. All their rows would end in blows. (29.37)
At this point, Thérèse and Laurent pour all of their energy into finding new ways to hurt each other. Violence is now the only way they're able to interact with one another. How tragic.
Quote #9
Laurent decided that he would kill Thérèse, because Thérèse was getting in his way, because she could destroy him with a word and because she caused him unbearable misery. Thérèse made up her mind to kill Laurent for the same reasons. [...] They felt an imperious need to kill one another and obeyed this need like wild animals. (31.45)
Thérèse and Laurent now view each other as complete enemies. And again, Zola emphasizes the importance of scientific determinism by suggesting that they are both compelled to "obey this need" to murder. They simply can't stop themselves… or can they?