I have to write an essay on one of the two topics for "The Ladies' Paradise" by Emile Zola:

Question

#1 - How does the "struggle for survival(or existence)"(both forms are used in book) work in the first few chapters?

OR

#2 - How does Mouret "exploit" women to promote his business?

the more i reread it, the more confused i get. even the slightest bit of info on either topic would be greatly appreciated. thank you.

You could use either topic, in modern times these two issues have taken on in the women liberation movement major s e x ist themes.
I like the second issue, Mouret used women just for money and power, and he exploited their need to satisfy men to sell things. There are many examples of this in the book. He also exploited the misplacement of identity and individuality the women exhibited to clothes, fashions, and buying, and again, there are several examples of this. Mouret also used his charm to achieve these aims. I am personally not even certain he saw women as individuals, but rather just as means to power, prestige, and wealth for himself.
This sounds like an exciting assignment, and I suspect you will have difficulty seperating your personal experiences and feelings from the book. Perhaps this is the purpose of the essay. This is a battle many modern young women have to face.