my thoughts (part 1)

In the early sections of Madame Bovary i was a little confused on why Charles and Emma even got married in the first place. Although, the way that Flaubert used such great detail to describe the wedding really made me feel as if I was right there too, it also distracted me. It did help me to picture the image of this great wedding but in many parts of this novel it seemed like the author went a little overboard. Too much detail in some areas made the book more dull then exciting. There were definitely sections were I felt like I would be totally fine setting the book right down and not caring about what might happen later on. Now back to the book, I felt as if Charles was very excited and in love and Emma was sort of just like ok sure I’ll marry you. Then after they got married this idea just got stronger in my mind. Emma seemed so caught up in her pre-conceded notions of passion and true love from her books that she couldn't just learn to love on her own. Charles is very pleased with the marriage and Emma seems almost as if she is disappointed and wants out. The contrast that Flaubert creates between characters really sets up the book to have characters take on stronger roles. Then to elaborate even more on the fact of Emma’s discontent, later at the ball Emma is even embarrassed by Charles and does not want to represent herself along with him. Throughout the entire section one of Madame Bovary it seemed that it was mainly based on both an emotional and physical struggle within herself (Emma). At this point in the book I still hadn't decided what to think but it was definitely not my favorite book. It really dragged on way more about each event then was necessary.

Realism vs. Romanticism

The connection between this book and say, Jane Erye, doesn't seem too strong, or too apparent. Because the two different types of writing, of course the descriptions, symbolism and foreshadowing isn't similar but Flaubert does address romanticism, even if he is a realist. Emma, with her elaborate & romantic dreams and pictures of how her life will be like, is the spark in this book that represents every realist's worst enemy: the romantic. It seems like Flaubert decides to include a character to stand for more "layered", descriptive writing simply to clearly show readers that he is a realist and writes that way. Emma's eccentric and extravagant nature seems to possibly be the thing that Flaubert could never be.

I think that, because of Charles' stupidity, the depressing & unfortunate ending and the extreme contrast between the two main characters, Madame Bovary may be paralleling Flaubert's life as a writer. I feel that Flaubert envies "Emma" in the sense that he could never be a romantic and can only be a plain old realist. Maybe he wanted to be able to write like Bronte, to layer his writing with deeper language and more significant details. Instead, he stood by stupidly and in the end never could immerse himself in romantic prose, mirroring the end of the book. I may be totally off the mark, but that's one thing I feel Flaubert was trying to convey.

Flaubert and his cynical attitude

I just can't quite figure out what Flaubert is trying to say in his novel. He is obviously cynical. About as cynical as it gets. But what is he targeting this at? Is Flaubert saying that many people throw away the joy in their lives because they are looking for something better? Not everyone in the novel was doing this. In fact, there were quite a few scenes of opposition to this because the apothecary is looking forward to progress and opportunity. Other neighbors are content with their lives, though they are not extraordinary or extravagant. Perhaps he is saying that chasing dreams will always be absolutely ridiculous, because Emma chases frivolous dreams all her life and then kills herself. I realize that he is trying to hold a mirror to the world, but his mirror doesn't quite gleam. Covered in soot, it shows us the world through a black veil of his cynical mind. Besides, who is Flaubert to tell me that the world is just a depressing mess where one cannot achieve true love? Bah-hum-bug!

someone help me.

so i am confused as to weather Emma died from a true illness or pure depression. also i was kind of angry at Charles because he still stayed with Emma even though she had an affair with two different guys. I just thought that he should end it. I realize that he loved her, but i feel like it would just hurt him so much and that he should end it. I just really hated Emma. I thought that she treated those around her like shit.

true lauhgs

emma just wasnt worth reading about. i found little interests in the scampering of a simple minded slut. she wasnt looking for a real man to fall in love with she was looking for a fictional romeo who could make her feel like a princes. but even if she found that guy she wouldnt be able to control her want of an continuous upgrading man. the humor in the book is what makes it bearable but is the humor found in the sadness of life really worth reading about? is a few jokes on suicide and depression worth it? can pointing out the disappointment of a simple minded girl and a scrub of a doctor worth the time and energy? is reading about the sad truths of a life ran buy an imbisole worth the depression?

In this novel, Madame Bovary, the biggest issue I encountered was disloyalty and selflessness. Madame Bovary was very selfish in that her concerns were all derived on her well being and what would make her most happy. She initially thought she was in love when Charles arrived to help the family. He seemed kind of like a hero and mystery to her and that he could open a door to a happier life for her. Soon after marrying him she once again realized, that she was unhappy. Her perception of love and what it should be was not fulfilled in her life. When other guys came along they appeared to her as Charles once did a great guy with the ability to lead her into a better life. She thought she was in love. Truly she wouldn’t have been happy with any of these men if she had left Charles for one of them. She would soon become board of her life and those men would become just as Charles became to her. By not staying loyal to Charles she was always looking after what would make her happy and ignore her devotion to her husband and her child. I felt as though she was always after a fairytale love story that would romantically be depicted in a story. Even when a great love was unfolding this fairytale with Charles was never good enough for her. Her selfishness and disloyalty lead her to her death in the end. She was always looking for what she didn’t have instead of appreciating what she did have. Charles couldn’t have been a better husband to her. He fulfilled her with the biggest house in the town, possessions that would enlighten her and love. Charles was loyal and constantly trying to make her happy but because of her naive attitude she could never be pleased.

Emma's Reading

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.