Germinal, Part 2, Chapter 5 summary

What happens

1. Étienne wakes at twilight and walks past departing workers, including Brulé angrily reproaching Pierron for submitting to an overseer.
2. Zacharie obtains money from Philoméne by promising marriage, while Jeanlin cheats Bébert and Lydie over their earnings from selling greens.
3. At Réquillart, Étienne observes lovers and the elderly miners, then broods over children born into exhausting poverty.
4. After Mouquette cannot lend her money, Catherine accepts Chaval’s offer to buy a ribbon, and he steers her toward the ruins.
5. Chaval forces Catherine beneath a shed despite her refusals; Étienne watches without initially recognizing either person.
6. Recognizing Catherine and Chaval afterward, Étienne follows them in jealous anger before returning toward Rasseneur’s through the rainy night.

In this chapter

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