of the novel presents a stark and haunting atmosphere within a courtroom where Élisa faces the terrifying possibility of a death sentence. The scene is charged with tension as onlookers are drawn into the emotional turmoil surrounding her trial. Through poignant descriptions, we learn of Élisa's tragic past, raised by a mother who is a midwife, and how her childhood experiences shape her into a young woman marked by the harsh realities of love and survival. The narrative sets the stage for a profound exploration of her life choices and the social conditions that constrain and define her existence, hinting at the depth of character and societal critique that will unfold throughout the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)