Zola directly addresses President <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Character" href="https://www.supersummary.com/j-accuse/key-figures/#535447">Felix Faure</a>. He personifies the concept of history with the capitalization of the noun, which emphasizes how permanent the stain of the Dreyfus Affair will be on the Faure presidency as History shall live on to remember how France was tarnished by this injustice.

Zola appoints himself as the <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/voice/">voice</a> of justice in the Dreyfus case. “The normal channels of justice” refer to the court martials that convicted Dreyfus and acquitted Esterhazy.

Using the <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Literary Device" href="https://www.supersummary.com/allusion/">allusion</a> to the 15th century demonstrates how the court proceedings lack logic and reason, likening the Dreyfus <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Index of Terms" href="https://www.supersummary.com/j-accuse/index-of-terms/#535453">court martial</a> to a witch hunt or witch trial. Zola also furthers the point that the <a data-internal-link data-link-type="Index of Terms" href="https://www.supersummary.com/j-accuse/index-of-terms/#535452">bordereau</a> was invented to indict Dreyfus in a crime he did not commit.

Values & Ideas

Books on Justice & Injustice

Equality

History: World

European History

Literary Area of Study

French Literature

Emotions & Behavior

Hate & Anger

Humanities

Journalism Reads

Society

Nation & Nationalism

Government & Business

Politics & Government

Social Sciences

Sociology

Truth & Lies

 Émile Zola

Adult

Essay / Speech

Nonfiction

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore J'Accuse and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

J'Accuse Summary and Study Guide

Background

J'Accuse Background

Essay Analysis

J'Accuse Essay Analysis

keyFigure

Key Figures

J'Accuse Key Figures

Character Analysis

theme

Themes

J'Accuse Themes

Index of Terms

J'Accuse Index of Terms

Literary Devices

J'Accuse Literary Devices

quote

chapter

citation

character

Important Quotes

J'Accuse Important Quotes with Page Numbers

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

J'Accuse Essay Topics

J'Accuse

Important Quotes

Related Titles

Featured Collections