Emma's death is a very interesting one. She breaks into the laboratory and begins to take in some Arsenic. She is tired of her debts and therefore wants to commit suicide. She takes in the poison and begins to feel sick, however the real pain doesn't begin until about 8 pm when the vomit begins. When choosing suicide, poison is an interesting choice. It is extremely painful and takes a long time to go through. While Emma is dying, Charles continues to keep and I on her and try to find out what is wrong. Finally Emma allows him to read the letter which states that she had taken in Arsenic and that no one should be blamed. He calls for help and they try to save her, but in the end it is too late.
Emma's death is in some ways quite funny. She begins eating the Arsenic and then she waits. She thinks it isn't so bad, until the vomiting begins. From there it just gets worse and poor Charles is clung to the side of her bed, hoping that she will be well again. She continues to groan and pull at the sheets, but even while she is in this horrible pain she still lets out a little smile. Emma had gotten into serious debt, but no one was there to help. Rodolphe had refused to help and therefore Emma lost hope. She begins the suicide and finds that the true help was with Charles. He takes care of her and brings in a priest, but just as they think she is being saved things begin to turn again. Emma thinking she has been saved gives the most passionate kiss to the Man-God. She asks for the mirror to see herself and the pain begins again. Deep breaths, lose of air, and continuous pain. Finally it is over and she is Gone. It's a strange death and although she enjoys it and is thinking she is doing the right thing; she still tries so hard to hold onto the last glimpse of a second chance.
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Yes, the affectionate kiss is a delicious touch--I'm glad your brought that up. Indeed, the entire death scene can be seen as a miniature of the action of the novel as a whole. On the one hand, we have Emma's fantasies (that she'll find true Romantic love with anyone of her paramours, that death will be 'beautiful' and moving, etc.), and on the other we have Flaubert's unflinching reality (cruel lovers, deep debt, and a very painful death).
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