Macquart is a fictional character created by French author Émile Zola in his series of novels known as the Rougon-Macquart cycle. This series explores the lives of a single family, the Macquarts, against the backdrop of the social and political changes in France during the Second Empire. The character of Macquart often embodies the struggles and challenges faced by the working class. The Rougon-Macquart series consists of 20 novels, each focusing on different members of the family and their experiences. Through Macquart and other characters, Zola delves into themes such as heredity, social environment, and the impact of industrialization on society.