Thérèse Raquin weaves a complex tale of forbidden desires, murder, and despair set against the backdrop of the Left Bank of Paris during the mid-1800s. Drawing on the classic structure of French drama, the story centers on a tumultuous love triangle. Thérèse, Camille, and Laurent become entangled in a web of passion and betrayal, narrated by an all-seeing storyteller who occasionally passes moral judgment.

The Beginning

The opening scenes of the novel immerse the reader in the oppressive atmosphere of the Pont Neuf neighborhood. Here, a cramped dry-goods shop and three cramped rooms are home to the Raquin family—Madame Raquin, her son Camille, and his wife Thérèse. Their lives are marked by financial struggle, as they rely on meager earnings from the shop and Camille’s modest salary from his job at the Orleans railroad. Zola sets the stage for his narrative "experiment" by depicting a cast of characters that includes a neglectful husband, a passionate wife, an elderly matriarch, and a plump cat named Francois.

The Affair Begins

One evening, the mundane rhythm of their lives is disrupted by the arrival of Laurent, an acquaintance of Camille whom he meets at the railroad. Laurent exudes the allure and masculinity that Thérèse finds lacking in her husband. When Camille leaves to buy wine and Madame Raquin is occupied downstairs, Laurent and Thérèse give in to their mutual attraction. This clandestine meeting on the floor of the shop marks the beginning of their illicit affair.

A Deadly Scheme

As their secret liaisons become increasingly difficult to maintain, Thérèse and Laurent plot to eliminate the obstacle to their happiness—Camille. During a boating excursion, Laurent drowns Camille in the Seine, though he sustains a bite on his neck. Two weeks pass before Camille's body is discovered at the morgue, which Laurent visits daily, and Camille is officially declared deceased. The murder becomes a secret shared only between Thérèse and Laurent, as they resume their daily lives under the watchful eyes of Madame Raquin, Francois the cat, and the regular guests of the Thursday night domino games.

The Haunting Guilt

Despite their attempts to carry on as usual, both Thérèse and Laurent are haunted by guilt and plagued by nightmares of Camille. They seldom find solace in sleep. To ease their troubled consciences and perhaps secure their relationship, they manipulate circumstances so that Madame Raquin and Police Commissioner Michaud, a frequent guest at the Thursday gatherings, suggest marriage. However, their wedding night is marred by the specter of Camille, which extinguishes any remaining passion between them. Laurent’s wound, inflicted by Camille, throbs painfully after Thérèse is coerced into kissing it.

Living in Fear

The couple is trapped in a living purgatory, scrutinized by Laurent’s painting of Camille, the watchful cat, and a now-paralyzed Madame Raquin. Fear and loathing dominate their days as they continue to masquerade as a loving pair for their Thursday visitors. Laurent, consumed by his obsession, can only paint Camille’s image, while Thérèse seeks solace in fleeting encounters with local students. Their mutual distrust binds them tightly together as they fear one will betray the other by confessing to the crime.

A Descent into Madness

Life devolves into chaos and violence, with recriminations and physical confrontations under the silent gaze of Madame Raquin, who has pieced together their secret but can reveal nothing. The tension escalates as Thérèse becomes pregnant yet endures a miscarriage after allowing Laurent’s violent kicks to strike her belly. Each harbors thoughts of murder, with Laurent preparing prussic acid and Thérèse sharpening a kitchen knife.

The Tragic Conclusion

In a final confrontation fueled by paranoia and hatred, they realize each other's deadly intentions. With Madame Raquin's oppressive presence looming, they choose to end their shared torment by consuming the poison together. In a poignant and grim conclusion, Thérèse dies with her lips pressed to the scar on Laurent’s neck, a haunting testament to their doomed love and the specter of Camille that haunted them to their end.