✨“She was the amoureuse of all the novels, the heroine of all the plays, the vague "she" of all the poetry books.”✨
When the book was first published in 1856, it was prosecuted for immorality- ‘Madame Bovary’ by Flaubert focuses on the fall of Emma Bovary into debt, adultery and her eventual death.
A sentimental romantic, Emma’s married life leaves her feeling unfulfilled and seeks love and affection outside her marriage. She falls in love with a man who leaves her because he’s bored. Consequently, Emma falls sick due to the shock. She recovers and engages in all-encompassing relationship with Leon. Her passion and Joy are foiled by the reality which the writer symbolises through money. This causes her to be in debt and as she’s unable to pay them, she swallows arsenic- leading to her death.
Considered as one of the best modernist novels, it highlights human and their need to act upon their fantasies- the realistic and explicit narration along with Flaubert’s signature use of aesthetics, the novel’s cathartic ending made is successful.
Through Emma, the writer explores the gap between fantasies and reality; desire and the need to fulfil them. He also uses her to subvert romanticism while still employing the romantic notions- therefore, there’s an inherent irony in the text. Although it may seem like her downfall is a direct consequence of her indulging in her free will, its certainly not the case- it is to be attributed to the circumstances.
Emma also represents the women of the 19th century. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Emma lacks agency and can only act upon her desires when she breaks the strict moral codes of a woman laid down by the society. Furthermore, Emma is knowing to the readers only through the male characters in the novel and the writer. Her own narrative is controlled by men.
Translated from French, the book captures the reader through its engaging story, pellucid writing and interesting characters. But the book is quite a slow-burn like any realistic novel since takes into account each and every detail, stretching the story, at the same time making the reader feel as if they are witnessing everything first hand.
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