Der Traum (Die Rougon-Macquart 16)

Zola’s depiction of the protagonist’s inner world feels so vivid and unsettling. I'm curious what motivated him to delve into this theme so deeply.

The contrast between the personal and societal elements made me wonder how much Zola was commenting on his own time versus universal human experiences.

There were moments where the transitions felt seamless, but at times I felt the story slowed down. Was that intentional to enhance the dreamlike atmosphere?