Germinal, Part 4, Chapter 3 summary
Part 4, Chapter 3 of 40 · 17 min to read the chapter
In Chapter 3, the strike spreads while money, food, and fuel run short, and Catherine’s visit ends with Chaval attacking her and insulting Maheude. Étienne fears that his leadership brings disaster, but renews his determination and decides to summon Pluchart for a meeting aimed at recruiting miners to the International. The strike spreads across the pits, while the settlement remains quiet and relief funds run out.
What happens
- The strike spreads across the pits, while the settlement remains quiet and relief funds run out.
- Étienne gains authority but hesitates over Pluchart’s proposed meeting because Rasseneur opposes it.
- Maheude insists on continuing the strike, although she rejects Étienne’s violent politics and distrusts his promises about the Republic.
- Catherine brings coffee and sugar, but Maheude rebukes her before Chaval arrives, kicks her, and drags her outside.
- Étienne nearly fights Chaval, then walks out and fears that hunger makes his leadership disastrous.
- The silent Voreux revives Étienne’s defiance, and he decides to ask Rasseneur to summon Pluchart.
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In this chapter
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What does Étienne decide to do at the end?
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