Madame Bovery

by Gustave Flaubet

Genres: Classics

Paperback

Published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[John Mitchell]

This is one of the most profound books ever written. Written as an exercise in realism, the author hated the book because of the crushing weight of just how real the subject matter is. On the flip side, as a solid piece of realism, it is utterly believable. We know people like this.

Madame Bovery is the wife of a country doctor in rural France. She has an affair with a French noble. The breakup is tedious for him, but crushing for her. Flaubert's description of the nobleman's heart is where the magic resides. His description of Madame Bovary's double-standard (the nobleman is praised for the same things the country doctor is derided) is solid as well.

I quote from this often. Always to effect.

Life lesson: your contentment is found within, not within others.

[Mir Shahzad]

Summary:

Madame Bovary follows the story of Emma Bovary, a doctor's wife who, dissatisfied with her mundane provincial life and marriage, seeks fulfilment through extramarital affairs and excessive spending, ultimately leading to her tragic demise. The novel explores themes of romantic idealism The novel explores themes of romantic idealism versus reality and the emptiness of bourgeois society. Flaubert's incisive critique highlights the destructive consequences of pursuing unattainable desires and the constraints imposed by social expectations.

[Ayse]

Eger sonda emma mutlu olsaydi puani daha dusuk verecektim, cok bencilce hareket ediyor ama ahlaki kurallar hakkinda ya da nasihat vari bir sey yazmayacagim icin genel yorumlayacagim. Charles'e cok uzuldum hani emma her seyi anlatsaydi bile yine de emmayi kabul edecek kadar bagliydi aslinda ama eksigi su ki kendisine guveni mi dusuktur bilmem ama mesela rodolphe ile karsilastiginda her seyi bilmesine ragmen ona karsi ofke duymak yerine onun gibi olmak isterdim diyor, boyle bir adam oldugu icin emma zaten onu cekici bulmadi. rodolphe da bence heyecandan arzudan baska bir sey sunmuyordu hani cok da olaganustu bir adam degildi ama cok farkinda bir adamdi hani emma' nin ne istedigini anlayan nasil davranmasi gerektigini bilen bir adam ama bunlari yaparken emmayi kandirdigini dusunmuyorum gercekten icinden gelerek yasadigi seyleri sorumluluk almadan sonrasini dusunmeden yasadi, belki de o yuzden vazgecilmez oldu. Leon zaten bence rodolphe kadar etkiye sahip degildi emma uzerinde ama charles in leon'dan eksigi neydi? Ya adam isteksiz zaten degildi ama emma ona karsi cok cabasizdi hani leona karsi arzusunun birazini charlese gosterse eminim alacagi sey daha buyuk olurdu eger bu ikisini karsilastirsaydim

[Felicia Howard]

Halfway through the book, what strikes me most is the quiet weight of disillusionment.
It’s not dramatic or loud it unfolds slowly, almost gently, as expectations meet reality.
Emma’s longing feels less like rebellion and more like a soft ache, born from wanting life to be fuller, warmer, and more meaningful than it is.
The restraint of the writing makes the emptiness feel even more real

[Kevin]

Madame Bovery was a character who allowed her emotions to sweep her away and to a dark place. She then chooses a solution that is callous to her daughter and husband.

[Sylvie]

Not for me!!