Even though the setting of this plot is entirely alien to an eastern world reader, it could occur anywhere irrespective of culture and is universal. Who will not give anything for a night of love, especially someone who has not tasted the forbidden fruit? These same lustful thoughts would have crossed the minds of those teenagers reading Gunadasa Amerasekera’s Karumakkarayo in the ‘60s. Such thoughts will dwell only in the darkest corners of the mind’s eye, and will not be shared, unless in confidence with someone else. My opinion is that such plots will not emerge spontaneously unless there is some personal experience. Thus the author has been clever to depict this situation in a vivid manner to rekindle the thoughts of the reader.

The whole plot is woven around a young unmarried employed man called Julien Michon, an awkward character who believes that the whole world is looking at him and is self-conscious and therefore shy. Why was the young man fascinated by Therese de Marsanne? Is she the only young and pretty woman in this small town? Or was it the mystery surrounding the Marsanne family? The writer allows the reader’s imagination to find the suitable answer. Hence, he skilfully weaves the story with other characters as well as the brook ‘Chanteclair’.

Nevertheless, we must remember the quotation that "People are not blank slates on which we can write our message". This story may be perceived by readers depending on their backgrounds. Hence, after reading this plot varied explanations and views can be given. The imagination of readers can run riot/wild with such stories by Emile Zola and our own Gunadasa Amerasekera. Can a film director do justice to such masterpieces? I found that the film Karumakkarayo was unable to do so.

- Sunil Gamage

For a Night of Love the Zola’s short story needs a little more sustained application to experience the real feeling and taste unlike other novels. When you read a novel you enjoy it just by reading, but Zola has not given that chance in this short story, this story needs a lot of thinking before you taste it. It reveals an insight to the man, which cannot be seen from an ordinary angle. It is more valuable to someone who could see it and experience it in his/her life. The hidden energies in him or her that makes you to keep you with this book.

Julian had an attachment to Therese, this is clear when we see the decision of Julian to help Therese to come out of the crucial citation she had faced. We can see in this case that no one in this world will do a thing like this unless you have a very great attachment to the other. We can see from this that this incident takes place only because there is attachment. At this point Julian didn’t have much time to think about making this decision: still in seconds his mind arrived at the conclusion to help the woman whatever the consequences are. We can see that the love or the attachment does not permit a man or a woman to use their wise attention, simply because attachment is always common to appear with restlessness, this is why this man went for a decision of this nature. This is a good example for today’ generation where we see that we too make decisions like Julian when we face love. Young ones make a decision with unsettled mind due to love (attachment). Later when they do serious thinking they find out that it is not what he or she should have done.

Talking about Therese and Marlon’s affair we see that there had been a slight destruction throughout their affair. We can see in the modern world love stories end up in similar form. This too has something to do with restlessness which always is present with destruction.

The destructive mind of Therese makes her to behave in this manner and ending up in this situation.

Therefore in this story we can see that restlessness is a part of attachment and destruction. This story is reasonable as far as restlessness prevails in this world. Emil Zola’s sight towards the society has been wonderful. He has managed to grasp the truth in society. This is the most important thing in an author to see things clearly, seeing the reality.

While writing this book the author has tried to bring out the inner energies of the reader. The interest a man gets to read this book or to say that this is a wonderful story is simply due to the feelings you experience in your heart. The hidden energies which are retrained in your heart keeps you going when you start reading this book. Finally I like this story because it has touched our hearts.