Germinal, Part 5, Chapter 6 summary

What happens

1. Étienne fails to stop the stone throwing, while Rasseneur warns that the workers risk being shot.
2. The Grégoires enter the villa, but Cécile becomes separated from the returning party and falls into the crowd’s hands.
3. Étienne attacks Maigrat’s shop to divert the miners, while Deneulin uses his horse to help rescue Cécile.
4. Maigrat tries to reach his shop across a roof, falls onto the road, and dies from a head injury.
5. The women stuff earth into Maigrat’s mouth, mutilate his body, and parade the severed flesh on a stick.
6. Catherine warns Étienne that Chaval brings the gendarmes, pulls him away, and the crowd flees as the riders approach.

In this chapter

What to notice

Étienne answers Rasseneur by choosing solidarity despite his horror at the violence. His commitment keeps him among people he can no longer direct.

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