Lit Journal 1 - Summary The Masterpiece PDF

Preview

Summary

Summary of The Masterpiece by Emile Zola as required for the course. ...

Description

Kristofor Bojaj LIT 182 Journal #1 The Masterpiece, by Emile Zola begins with the main character, Claude, wandering about Paris. He catches glimpse of a frightened girl who we later find out is Christine. She tells him a story of how her train was derailed which made her late causing the person who was supposed to be waiting for her at the station to grow tired and leave. Claude, already resentful towards women, doesn’t believe her story. She begs Claude to take her to Passy, her destination but he insists she spend the night at his home considering they won’t find a cab at the late hour. She eventually agrees and they go back to his home and go to sleep after arguing a bit. Once he wakes, he has time to admire how beautiful she is and starts painting her in slumber but as she wakes up, Claude insists she pose for him. They eventually part ways and she leaves, declining his many offers to assist her on her way. We are then introduced to Pierre Sandoz, his childhood friend who comes over to pose for Claude on Sundays. They spend most of the day working on the painting while reminiscing on their childhood adventures and laughing while Sandoz begs Claude for breaks because he begins to cramp. At five o’clock, Dubuche walks in. He starts to criticize the painting which leads Claude to work on it again for hours while the other two wait, more than ready to eat until Malgras, the dealer pays a visit which infuriates Claude even more as he offers him a low bid on his painting. Before they leave for dinner, Claude takes a knife and scrapes off the head and shoulders of the woman in his painting. After days of solitary, swearing he would never touch a brush again as long as he lived, Claude leaves his studio and walks the streets of Paris. It was Thursday so he was prepared for his night with his friends at Sandoz home but realized he was at work until then. He then sets his hopes on Dubuche but he isn’t home either so he goes to the studio he is at. Once there, and after apparently being assaulted by the others at the studio, they talk for a bit and say their goodbyes. He then remembers about his friend Fagorelles so he pays a visit to his home and is met by his unwelcoming father who lets him know that he hasn’t come home for lunch. Finally, he realized Sandoz spent the day working at home so he makes his way over and they take a walk around the city together. The friends arrive at a café where a beautiful girl who flirts with them intrigues most of them. They make their way back to Sandoz home where their meal was ready for them. Dubuche arrives late and isn’t welcomed at first and is taunted the rest of the night. After dinner, they sit around the room and talk about everything revolving around art. At eleven o’clock, they hear a knock on the door and in appears Bongrand, the well-respected painter. They stay up all night talking and arguing until they decide they should go home. At this point, Claude feels reenergized and ready to get back to his craft when he is met by a surprise visitor, Christine. They talk for a bit but she is turned off when she sees herself in his nude painting and leaves. She comes back every two months or so until they are both comfortable with each other and she begins to visit regularly telling stories of her life....