Germinal

The mob, driven by years of starvation and anger, cries, “We want bread! We want bread!” (330), and moves from pit to pit attacking the workers and destroying the property. Étienne passed up his share of food that morning and is only drinking gin, growing more intoxicated. At the pit Mirou, the mob encounters Quandieu, an elderly deputy for whom they have respect. Quandieu tells them he will not let them attack the men in the pit, for he’s “just a worker, the same as you” and that he’s “been told to guard the place” (333). Their “soldierly obedience” (333) touched, the mob moves on to another pit, Étienne forcing Chaval with them. Étienne and Maheu tell Catherine to go home, but she refuses.

The mob goes through villages and picks up more people as it moves from pit to pit, beating up workers and destroying property. They pass a few mines where they hear there are gendarmes waiting. At one pit, they destroy a railway and lamp-room, and even La Maheude, “beside herself with rage” (337), partakes in the destruction. They pass La Piolaine and glare through the gates at the comfortable house with its “patriarchal aura” (338).