Doctor Pascal

"Doctor Pascal" by Émile Zola is a story set in what seems to be the late 1800s, centered around Dr. Pascal Rougon, an older doctor greatly involved in his study of how traits are passed down through families, even if it causes issues in his own family. The story hints at themes such as wanting to be a great scientist, family history, and disagreements between religion and science when showing how Pascal deals with his niece, Clotilde, and their housekeeper, Martine. At the beginning, Dr. Pascal is in his office on a warm day, completely focused on his research, surrounded by many documents. Clotilde, his niece, is shown sketching flowers, which points out her artistic abilities and the close relationship between her and Pascal. The peaceful mood is broken by the disagreements in their beliefs since Pascal is a scientist focused on facts, while Clotilde, influenced by Martine's religious views, is interested in the mysteries of life that go beyond science. As the story begins, the family connections, with Clotilde’s willingness to defend her uncle from disapproval and his extreme commitment to his work, develop a setting for the problems that arise, hinting at a look into the sacrifices one makes for progress and the difficulties created by knowledge.