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zdkb24 's review for:
The Beast Within
by Émile Zola
Zola's approach is so modern, and his constructions are so crafty. You don't expect, for instance, to discover that Aunt Phasie was right all along, that sleepy Misard had been poisoning her - but when it's revealed, it's entirely keeping with the story, which is about the failure to contain monstrous urges. The way he bides his time is marvelous.
Also, as (totally) crazy as the Lombroso-esque reasoning about the caveman rage passed down through the Lantier line is, it pretty much works out since it belongs to Jacques's point-of-view. While there's obviously no question that Zola took Lombroso's theory seriously, the attention he pays to Jacques's inner conflict makes it float; Jacques is a proto-serial killer and this is the bonkers justification that he attempts to resist.
And wow, that final image of the runaway train carrying the drunk, singing soldiers into the night!
Also, as (totally) crazy as the Lombroso-esque reasoning about the caveman rage passed down through the Lantier line is, it pretty much works out since it belongs to Jacques's point-of-view. While there's obviously no question that Zola took Lombroso's theory seriously, the attention he pays to Jacques's inner conflict makes it float; Jacques is a proto-serial killer and this is the bonkers justification that he attempts to resist.
And wow, that final image of the runaway train carrying the drunk, singing soldiers into the night!