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Germinal, Part 6, Chapter 3 summary

Part 6, Chapter 3 of 40 · 15 min to read the chapter

In Chapter 3, Étienne visits the Avantage, acknowledges the strike’s defeat, and hears Souvarine condemn workers who seek wealth rather than equality. When Chaval arrives with Catherine and boasts about returning to work, Étienne fights him, survives a knife attack through Catherine’s warning, and overcomes his own urge to kill.

What happens

  1. Étienne visits the Avantage and tells Rasseneur that the strike is finished, but defends the value of the workers’ sacrifice.
  2. Souvarine condemns revolutionary politics and selfish workers, then learns that the Rasseneurs have cooked Poland and served him part of her.
  3. Chaval brings Catherine into the inn, boasts about supervising Belgian workers, and provokes Étienne into a fight.
  4. Étienne knocks Chaval down, but Catherine warns him when Chaval rises with a knife.
  5. Étienne disarms Chaval and resists killing him; Chaval leaves after abusing Catherine and forbidding her to return.

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In this chapter

ÉtienneCatherineChavalSouvarineRasseneur

What to notice

Étienne’s victory depends on controlling himself as well as defeating Chaval. The sentence marks his refusal to turn the fight into murder.

Quick check

What does Catherine do when Chaval draws his knife?

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