Die Rougon-Macquart. Band 5 - Die Sünde des Abbé Mouret

The novel delves deep into moral conflicts that feel both personal and societal. I wonder what motivated Zola to tackle these themes at this point in his career.

The depiction of the church's influence felt very visceral, but also made me uneasy about the characters' struggles. How did others interpret the balance of power and faith here?

The social and religious context seems to shape every decision, but I'm curious whether this was based on specific historical events or more of a general atmosphere Zola wanted to evoke.