Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Ladies’ Paradise, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Consumerism and Excess
Women, Exploitation, and Power
Tradition vs. Modernity
Class and Mobility
Summary
Analysis
The next day, Bouthemont goes to Madame Desforges’s for tea. Bouthemont, who is a confidant of both Mouret and Madame Desforges, assures Madame Desforges that Mouret will come, especially since he heard that Baron Hartmann would be there. Madame Desforges wishes that Bouthemont had brought Mouret with him so she could be sure he would come; lately, she rarely sees Mouret. Bouthemont also fears losing his friendship with Mouret. After the disaster with the excess stock of silk, the Ladies’ Paradise is trying to push Bouthemont out, and only Mouret claims to be on his side.
Bouthemont and Madame Desforges are simultaneously realizing that they are being used by Mouret. Bouthemont even admits that Mouret is only claiming to be on his side. This suggests that Mouret never actually takes sides with anyone, supporting only whoever benefits him, and dropping these people as soon as they cause him difficulties. This general utilitarianism emphasizes, by contrast, how uncharacteristic it is for Mouret to express such interest in Denise.
Themes
Madame Desforges tells Bouthemont her plan: Denise is coming at five to fit a coat, and Madame Desforges will then bring her and Mouret face to face to humiliate them. Bouthemont tells Madame Desforges that nothing has happened between Mouret and Denise. Madame Desforges argues that Mouret clearly loves Denise. Since Denise rejected him, he has been “ruining himself” with other girls. She chokes back tears, afraid of getting older and losing her chance at love. Bouthemont holds her hands while she swears to get her revenge on Mouret.
Madame Desforges is particularly jealous of Denise precisely because nothing has happened between Denise and Mouret. Since nothing has happened, Madame Desforges knows that Mouret really loves Denise. In the modern society, refusal indicates love, whereas consumption and casual sex mean the mere fulfillment of desire. Mouret is “ruining himself” on meaningless relationships because he can’t have what’s real: Denise.
Themes
Madame Desforges asks Bouthemont why he doesn’t set up his own shop. Bouthemont says that he would need a lot of capital, and also that he’d have to pick a region where the people are not loyal customers of the Ladies’ Paradise. Furthermore, his father refused to help fund “a brothel of business.” Madame Desforges hints that she’d be willing to fund him.
The phrase “brothel of business” suggests that department stores like the Ladies’ Paradise sell pleasure in much the same way a brothel sells pleasure. This negative description of the department store paints it as a place of moral depravity.
Themes
The bell rings, and soon Mouret and Vallagnosc enter. Madame Desforges is privately angry that Mouret brought his friend, but she only rebukes him flirtatiously for never coming to see her. Mouret compliments her appearance. She says that he looks ill and overworked. Mouret tells Bouthemont that they need to have a talk later. Mouret then says he hoped Baron would be here, which offends Madame Desforges. A servant comes in and announces the arrival of a salesgirl for a fitting. Madame Desforges says to make her wait in the hall.
Madame Desforges—as a member of the old aristocratic class—conceals her true emotions under a polite mask. On the other hand, Mouret—as a man who became rich thanks to his modern business—is more open. This contrast between their characters reveals the difference between the stiffness of the old class system and the freedom of the modern businessman.
Themes
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Madame Marty and Madame de Boves come in, saying that they recognize the salesgirl in the hall from the Ladies’ Paradise. Mouret looks at Madame Desforges, becoming suspicious. Madame Desforges says that she bought a coat from the Ladies’ Paradise, but that she is unsatisfied with the fit. Bouthemont defends the Ladies’ Paradise, and the ladies discuss clothes and Monsieur de Boves and Madame Guibal’s simultaneous trips. Madame Marty says that her husband, who recently took shady side jobs to support her shopping sprees, might lose his job. Madame Desforges promises to find him new work. Madame de Boves says that Mouret looks ill, and Mouret says that he’s been working hard. Baron comes in, and Mouret shakes his hand warmly.
The Ladies’ Paradise is starting to take its toll on the ladies as evidenced by Madame Marty’s situation. Although the Paradise claims to be for the benefit of the public, in actuality it impoverishes the richest class of people. Also significant during this scene is Mouret’s noticeably bad health. While he was recklessly gambling his capital on the success of his store, he was vibrant and healthy. This suggests that his health is suffering now not from his stressful business, but from his unrequited feelings for Denise.
Themes
Baron left the door open, revealing Denise standing in the hall; she proudly refused to sit. Everyone looks at her and gossips. Mouret tries to change the subject, but Baron asks him if the morals of his salesgirls are as bad as everyone says. Mouret defends his salesgirls, saying that the Ladies’ Paradise has allowed them to rise up in the world and live decent lives. The ladies disagree. Madame Desforges says the salesgirls are for sale, just like the goods. Mouret tries to smile, and Baron graciously changes the subject. Madame Desforges goes to meet Denise, and Mouret and Baron go into another room to talk.
The aristocratic ladies believe that the Ladies’ Paradise lowers the class of the girls who work there, but it seems that this opinion is founded in their general distaste of anyone who does not lead the traditional life that they lead. Mouret, on the other hand, sees the Ladies’ Paradise as an instrument that elevates the employee’s class. While the ladies think that nothing can improve a person’s standing if they’re born into the lower classes, Mouret believes that work can.
Themes
Mouret tells Baron about his dream of installing the Ladies’ Paradise in an entire block. To do this, he needs the entrance lot that Baron’s company plans to turn into a hotel. Baron tells Mouret that his company won’t sell the entrance because they see it as only an advertisement for Mouret’s shop. Mouret says that the entrance would increase his capital tenfold, but Baron argues that his company thinks the idea is too risky.
No one besides Mouret can comprehend how the Ladies’ Paradise can physically expand any further. Mouret sees expansion as a way to essentially spend money to make more money—a modern idea that the more traditional businessman, such as Baron, does not understand.
Themes
Mouret raises his voice, explaining how minimal increases in his capital has produced millions. Baron says that Mouret can’t keep expanding, and Mouret asks why not. Mouret says he wants all of Paris’s money because it belongs to women, and women belong to him. Baron pats Mouret’s shoulder in a fatherly way and says he will try to convince his company. Feeling dispirited, Mouret thanks him.
Although he is a modern businessman, Mouret’s notion that women belong to him appeals to a traditional masculine view. This suggests that Mouret’s opinion of women might actually be holding him back from modernity, instead of leading him into it, as he believes.
Themes
Vallagnosc comes in as Baron jokes to Mouret that the women will have their revenge. Disconcerted, Mouret asks what he means. Baron says that women will want “a fair exchange” and that they will exploit him more than he has exploited them. Mouret says he isn’t afraid to lose money. Looking sad, Baron says that there are more ways to suffer besides losing money. Mouret says that he doesn’t suffer like that, but Baron tells him not to pretend he is more heartless than he is. Joking again, he insinuates that heartbreak can happen, and Vallagnosc, also chuckling, agrees.
In this passage, the ominous concept of women’s revenge is subtly connected with heartbreak. Mouret because he believes that women only care about material things. So, he assumes money is the only thing a woman would want to take from him. However, Baron points out that this revenge isn’t necessarily transactional or material; instead, it could involve something more emotional, such as heartbreak.
Themes
Just then, the door opens and Madame Desforges calls for Mouret. She says that the salesgirl knows nothing, so she wants Mouret’s opinion. Mouret—who thinks of Denise all the time and loves her more than he has ever loved anyone—is glad he is here to protect her from Madame Desforges’s cruel jealousy. He follows Madame Desforges into her dressing room where Denise stands, modest and composed.
Just after Baron insinuated that heartbreak could be women’s revenge, Mouret is drawn to protect Denise. In this moment, he is not thinking practically of how his actions will benefit him. In this way, heartbreak is a kind of revenge because it is forcing Mouret to take his mind off exploitation.
Themes
On Madame Desforges’ orders, Denise helps the lady into the coat. Mouret, wanting to cut things short, says that the coat doesn’t fit, and that the Ladies’ Paradise will make her another one. Madame Desforges insists that she wants this coat and orders Denise to start pinning, criticizing her every move.
This scene is a battle of the traditional classes. Madame Desforges tries to lord her power over Denise by making her do tailoring work, whereas Mouret—in trying to give this job to the appropriate person at the Paradise—stands up for Denise’s dignity.
Themes
Mouret tries to intervene. His heart pounds at Denise’s humiliation and the dignity she maintains. Seeing that she can’t break Denise this way, Madame Desforges starts flirting with Mouret. She sends him to her jewelry box for more pins, insinuating that he is comfortable in her bedroom. Denise trembles when Madame Desforges asks Mouret to touch her back. Mouret wishes he could make Madame Desforges be quiet. Denise wonders if Mouret is punishing her for rejecting him and summons all her courage to endure the pain and humiliation.
Although Madame Desforges is—in the traditional sense—in a higher class than Denise, her actions in this scene put her far below Denise morally, while Denise’s actions morally elevate her above Madame Desforges. In this way, Denise’s dignity—a quality that doesn’t come from any particular class or material advantage—defies distinctions of class and elevates Denise beyond them.
Themes
When Madame Desforges orders her to fit the coat again, Denise says that Madame Desforges is plump, and that she can’t make her thinner. Madame Desforges tosses aside the coat, Denise tosses aside her pins, and they glare at each other. Madame Desforges calls Denise insolent. Denise says that as long as Mouret is pleased with her work, she won’t apologize. Madame Desforges calls Denise a “tart” that Mouret picked off the street. At this, two big tears fall from Denise’s eyes. Mouret grabs Denise’s hands and reassures her tenderly of his high opinion of her. He escorts her to the door, and she leaves, now crying with joy.
In Madame Desforges and Denise’s confrontation, the question becomes: is Madame Desforges better because she’s an aristocrat, or is Denise superior because she’s worked hard? For his part, Mouret sides with Denise, suggesting that work can indeed elevate a person beyond the class they were born into. Denise implicitly agrees with him when she insists that she doesn’t actually care what Madame Desforges thinks—she cares what her employer thinks.
Themes
Humiliated, Madame Desforges buries her face in her handkerchief. She asks Mouret if Denise is the girl he loves, and he says she is. Madame Desforges throws herself in a chair and calls herself miserable. Mouret stares at her for a moment and then leaves the room.
Through her actions, Madame Desforges has lowered herself beneath Denise’s level. Her humiliation has nothing to do with material circumstances, but rather with her character.
Themes
Mouret goes back to the small drawing room and finds Vallagnosc by himself. Vallagnosc asks sarcastically if Mouret is enjoying himself. With tears in his eyes, Mouret says that he has never lived so intensely and that he loves life. He will get Denise in the end, and that will make up for his suffering. Mouret says that he would rather die of passion than boredom; he likes to create and overcome “facts” because “action is its own reward.” Vallagnosc says that there is no point in wanting anything when nothing ever ends up how he wants. He is bored, and the only reason he doesn’t kill himself is because he is lazy. Vallagnosc and Mouret laugh together over their longstanding disagreement.
In the same way that Mouret loves the thrill of dangerously gambling his entire savings in hopes of earning more, he loves the suffering of not getting Denise because of the hope that he will one day get her. He loves overcoming “facts,” meaning that he is constantly redefining his own principles. Where he once defined for himself the way to get to women through his store, he must now redefine this “fact” to include how he can get Denise—a woman who has refused what Mouret’s original “Woman” wanted.
Themes
Feeling better after talking to Vallagnosc, Mouret returns to the drawing room. He tells everyone that the coat can’t be fixed. Then he sits down next to Bouthemont and dismisses him from the Ladies’ Paradise, pretending that he’d been unable to fight against Bourdoncle and the rest of the staff. Madame Desforges reappears, having resumed the “mask of her society charm,” and says that the coat will work fine.
Madame Desforges’s resumed “mask of society charm” reveals that the righteous attitude of the higher classes is often fake. Having just humiliated herself, Madame Desforges has nothing to look haughty about. The masks that the classes wear conceal their character—the thing that really defines who they are.
Themes
The ladies start talking again of big stores. Mouret pitches the Ladies’ Paradise and gets the ladies interested. He says that he hopes to marry Mademoiselle Fontenailles to a porter soon. The ladies think that this is a low-class marriage for someone who has high-class ancestors, but Mouret preaches the “aristocracy of labor.” Monsieur Marty arrives and thanks Madame Desforges for helping him find new work. He then responds to Mouret that economy, as well as work, amounts to success.
Mouret claims that “the aristocracy of labor” justifies the marriage of a traditionally high-class woman to a traditionally low-class man. Whereas the traditional aristocracy is defined by birth and wealth, the new aristocracy—since it is defined by labor—can be made up of anyone who works. In this way, labor raises a person to a high class in the modern world.
Themes
While the rest are talking, Bouthemont tells Madame Desforges that he is ready to start his own shop. Madame Desforges tells him to come see her that evening, and then tells Baron about Bouthemont—the next promising young man she wants him to finance. Baron agrees, then watches in admiration as Mouret charms the ladies into forgiving him for “ruining” them with clothes and sales. Mouret has beaten Madame Desforges, but will he beat Denise, the girl who is “formidable in her gentleness”?
The fact that Denise is “formidable in her gentleness” explains that she is powerful in a very unforeseen way. Her power is subtle and gentle—two qualities which stand opposite the qualities that define the modern consumerist society in its flashiness and immodesty. In this way, Denise might be undefeatable because she doesn’t fit the mold of Mouret’s ideal customer.
Themes
