The Ladies' Paradise Literary Elements

The Ladies' Paradise Literary Elements

Genre

Novel

Setting and Context

Actions take place in 19th century, Paris, France.

Narrator and Point of View

The narration is recounted by a third person, who describes the everyday life of inhabitants in Paris. The theme of love and fashion are mentioned here. Also dialogues between characters are present in this story.

Tone and Mood

Because of the romantic events in this story, the novel reproduces the lovely and unruffled mood. But there are many strained events, which determine the fate of characters. In that case the tone is intrigued and disturbing.

Protagonist and Antagonist

The major protagonist is Denise, and the major antagonist is problems, which always don’t give opportunity to attain her aim.

Major Conflict

The major conflict is between the boutique “Paradise” and other stores. The owner of “Paradise” sells foods at a low price and that’s why he has a lot of buyers. Other stores suffer damage and fail. And every salesman hates Octave Mouret for the “Paradise”.

Climax

The climax actually happens in conclusion of the story, when Octave Mouret refuses from his millions and makes a declaration of love to Denise. And she agrees with him.

Foreshadowing

The foreshadowing takes place in the beginning of the novel. When Denise arrives, her uncle promises to give her some work, but his shop incurs losses. It foreshadows that the shop will be closed and all efforts will be useless. And it happens in such a way.

Understatement

Some facts, such as not very honest ways of trading, are suppressed in the novel, though they are understood from the context, the author himself never says of it directly.

Allusions

The story alludes the most famous streets and shopping areas in Paris: the Rue de la Michodière and the Rue Neuve-Saint-Augustin.

Imagery

The author gives vivid descriptions of Paris and its life, which appeal to readers' senses providing both spectacular and squalor views.

Paradox

The most contradictory fact is that concerning Octave Mouret’s attitude to women. Not really respecting them, and considering just as a subject of his desires, he falls in love with a rather insignificant girl, which proves that one never knows what to expect from life.

Parallelism

N/A

Metonymy and Synecdoche

N/A

Personification

The business is often personified in the text. It destroys the relations between people and makes them mortal enemies. But sometimes it delivers from the death, famine and poor life. And it also makes people successful.

Update this section!

You can help us out by revising, improving and updating this section.

Update this section

After you claim a section you’ll have 24 hours to send in a draft. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or provide feedback.

Cite this page