Study Guide for Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary

This study guide for Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary provides a comprehensive overview of the novel, including its themes, characters, and critical reception.

Study Guide for Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Course Hero

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1059 KB
Print length	:	29 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE

Themes

Madame Bovary is a complex novel that explores a wide range of themes, including:

• The destructive power of romanticism: Emma Bovary is a young woman who is raised on romantic novels and dreams of a life of passion and adventure. However, her marriage to the dull and unromantic Charles Bovary quickly disillusiones her. She begins to have affairs in an attempt to find the love and excitement she craves, but these affairs only lead to her downfall.
• The dangers of social conformity: Emma Bovary is a victim of the social conventions of her time. She is expected to marry and have children, and she is not allowed to pursue her own interests or desires. This stifling environment ultimately leads to her death.
• The importance of self-acceptance: Emma Bovary is never able to accept herself for who she is. She is always comparing herself to others and wishing she was someone else. This dissatisfaction with herself leads to her unhappiness and ultimately to her death.

Characters

Madame Bovary features a cast of complex and well-developed characters, including:

• Emma Bovary: The protagonist of the novel, Emma Bovary is a young woman who is raised on romantic novels and dreams of a life of passion and adventure. However, her marriage to the dull and unromantic Charles Bovary quickly disillusiones her. She begins to have affairs in an attempt to find the love and excitement she craves, but these affairs only lead to her downfall.
• Charles Bovary: Emma's husband, Charles Bovary is a kind and gentle man, but he is also dull and unromantic. He is unable to satisfy Emma's emotional needs, which leads to her unhappiness and ultimately to her death.
• Rodolphe Boulanger: Emma's first lover, Rodolphe Boulanger is a handsome and charming man, but he is also a selfish and unfaithful lover. He seduces Emma and then quickly abandons her.
• Léon Dupuis: Emma's second lover, Léon Dupuis is a young and idealistic man who is truly in love with Emma. However, he is too weak and indecisive to save her from her self-destruction.

Critical Reception

Madame Bovary was a controversial novel when it was first published in 1856. Some critics praised it for its realism and its exploration of complex themes, while others condemned it for its immorality and its negative portrayal of women. However, over time, Madame Bovary has come to be recognized as one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. It is now considered a classic of French literature and is studied in schools and universities around the world.

Madame Bovary is a complex and challenging novel that offers a深刻 insight into the human condition. It is a masterpiece of French literature and is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the 19th century.

Study Guide for Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary (Course Hero Study Guides)

by Course Hero

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1059 KB
Print length	:	29 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

FREE