Summary

As the Coupeaus, along with a 13-year-old Nana in tow, move into their sixth floor apartment, they at first put forth effort in trying to get their lives back on track. Coupeau finds some work, as does Gervaise, but slowly, things take a turn for the worse. Virginie’s success contrasts with Gervaise’s downfall: she made the shop a speciality grocer, selling small gourmet items, and is doing quite well. Lantier, now sleeping with Virginie, as though she replaced Gervaise, is quite happy with the change, and Coupeau, ironically thinking the affair hilarious considering his wife’s own affair with Lantier, loves to make fun of Monsieur Poisson, who has effectively replaced him.

Nana takes her first communion, the only big event in the chapter other than the Coupeaus upstair move; however, the night before, Coupeau comes home drunk and abusive, yelling at...