Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ Paradise

The depiction of space in literature is crucial to every story as it guides the reader’s imagination regarding the story’s location and the characters’ surroundings. This paper studies the relationship between architecture, interiors, and literary spaces by using a methodology that draws on architec...

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Main Authors: Layal Alsahli, Zeynep Tuna Ultav, Müge Sever
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Istanbul University Press 2022-12-01
Series:Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi
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Online Access:https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/C5EF8AC09879466F969E52B982B5DD6E
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author Layal Alsahli
Zeynep Tuna Ultav
Müge Sever
author_facet Layal Alsahli
Zeynep Tuna Ultav
Müge Sever
author_sort Layal Alsahli
collection DOAJ
description The depiction of space in literature is crucial to every story as it guides the reader’s imagination regarding the story’s location and the characters’ surroundings. This paper studies the relationship between architecture, interiors, and literary spaces by using a methodology that draws on architectural literary analysis, a methodology that uses literature as a medium to define and analyze architectural spaces and cues. Specifically, it investigates the connections between architectural and spatial references and their influences on societal concerns in literature – the literary space within The Ladies’ Paradise (1883), a novel by Émile Zola (1840-1902). The retail space portrayed within the novel dominates the narrative. Thus, the architectural spaces are described to support the storyline. These spatial cues indicate a specific overall theme, namely capitalism – an important issue to discuss within architectural discourse. Zola reveals a new perspective on the social and architectural impacts on society under capitalism through the public interior space of Ladies’ Paradise. The research also indicates the correlation between architecture, public space, and retailing culture through the birth of the “department store,” thus forever altering society’s ideology on retail culture. Although the novel is categorized as fictitious, the representation of 19th-century retailing culture, women’s role within society, and the significance of architecture are shown to be realistic to that time. In conclusion, this paper reveals the dialogue between architecture, societal gender issues, and the evolvement of retail culture through the medium of literature and derives lessons from this dialogue.
format Article
id doaj-art-cef0b70dfe1d413c95189290b956dd36
institution Kabale University
issn 2602-2117
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publishDate 2022-12-01
publisher Istanbul University Press
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series Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi
spelling doaj-art-cef0b70dfe1d413c95189290b956dd362025-08-20T03:52:38ZdeuIstanbul University PressLitera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi2602-21172022-12-0132265367310.26650/LITERA2021-990079123456Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ ParadiseLayal Alsahlihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6636-3053Zeynep Tuna Ultav0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0478-7333Müge Sever1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7478-2816Yaşar Üniversitesi, Izmir, TurkiyeYaşar Üniversitesi, Izmir, TurkiyeThe depiction of space in literature is crucial to every story as it guides the reader’s imagination regarding the story’s location and the characters’ surroundings. This paper studies the relationship between architecture, interiors, and literary spaces by using a methodology that draws on architectural literary analysis, a methodology that uses literature as a medium to define and analyze architectural spaces and cues. Specifically, it investigates the connections between architectural and spatial references and their influences on societal concerns in literature – the literary space within The Ladies’ Paradise (1883), a novel by Émile Zola (1840-1902). The retail space portrayed within the novel dominates the narrative. Thus, the architectural spaces are described to support the storyline. These spatial cues indicate a specific overall theme, namely capitalism – an important issue to discuss within architectural discourse. Zola reveals a new perspective on the social and architectural impacts on society under capitalism through the public interior space of Ladies’ Paradise. The research also indicates the correlation between architecture, public space, and retailing culture through the birth of the “department store,” thus forever altering society’s ideology on retail culture. Although the novel is categorized as fictitious, the representation of 19th-century retailing culture, women’s role within society, and the significance of architecture are shown to be realistic to that time. In conclusion, this paper reveals the dialogue between architecture, societal gender issues, and the evolvement of retail culture through the medium of literature and derives lessons from this dialogue.https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/C5EF8AC09879466F969E52B982B5DD6Earchitecture and literaturecapitalismémile zolaliterary spacethe ladies’ paradise
spellingShingle Layal Alsahli
Zeynep Tuna Ultav
Müge Sever
Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ Paradise
Litera: Dil, Edebiyat ve Kültür Araştırmaları Dergisi
architecture and literature
capitalism
émile zola
literary space
the ladies’ paradise
title Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ Paradise
title_full Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ Paradise
title_fullStr Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ Paradise
title_full_unstemmed Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ Paradise
title_short Architectural References within Émile Zola’s Novel, The Ladies’ Paradise
title_sort architectural references within emile zola s novel the ladies paradise
topic architecture and literature
capitalism
émile zola
literary space
the ladies’ paradise
url https://cdn.istanbul.edu.tr/file/JTA6CLJ8T5/C5EF8AC09879466F969E52B982B5DD6E
work_keys_str_mv AT layalalsahli architecturalreferenceswithinemilezolasnoveltheladiesparadise
AT zeyneptunaultav architecturalreferenceswithinemilezolasnoveltheladiesparadise
AT mugesever architecturalreferenceswithinemilezolasnoveltheladiesparadise