Germinal, Part 5, Chapter 3 summary

What happens

1. Reports of troops delay the gathering, but the soldiers withdraw and the miners set out for Jean-Bart.
2. Deneulin refuses to stop work, and the growing crowd forces its way into the pit buildings.
3. Despite Étienne and Maheu’s protests, men cut the cables while women empty the furnaces and Jeanlin releases steam.
4. The underground workers climb out by ladders and pass through rows of strikers who mock and threaten them.
5. Étienne forces Chaval to join the onward march, Catherine follows, and her parents angrily condemn her for working.
6. Deneulin inspects the disabled machinery and recognizes his approaching bankruptcy, while acknowledging the miners’ hunger and lack of education.

In this chapter

What to notice

Étienne wants disciplined action but cannot govern the crowd. His wounded pride accompanies his concern about violence.

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