Emma Bovary is a person who thinks that what she once read as a child in the romance novels actually does exist in the real world. She wants to have this wonderful, romantic life, but does not understand that what people write in books is most likely their way of expressing what they wish to have or their views on issues. If something in her life is not how the novels she read growing up dictated, then she starts to believe that her life is worth nothing and that she needs to find some aristocrat that will sweep her off her feet, or not have such and "oafish" husband.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
It's interesting that you seem to posit literature as an idealized version of life (one which presents things not as they are, but as we wish they'd be). This is a conversation we began at the start of the year, and which I am happy to our reminding us to continue. The question is what risk Flaubert, as a realist, is running when he presents just the sort of dull and tawdry world that so many of us turn to literature to escape. I'm interested to see what you think of Barnes.
Post a Comment