| The novel, Madame Bovary, deals with the adulterous life led by Emma Bovary. Emma, the daughter of a country farmer, meets Charles when her father breaks his leg. Charles falls in love and the two decide to marry. Soon after they are married, Emma discovers that her marriage with Charles doesn't live up to her rather lofty expectations.
Emma, unhappy with the monotonous village life she has been tied to, eventually grows so miserable that she becomes ill. Charles decides to move away in hopes that a change in scenery will improve Emma's health. Emma ends up having two affairs in an attempt to separate herself from Charles, whom she begins to see as increasingly dull and incompetent. Emma is often indiscreet, and the townspeople all gossip about her. Charles, however, suspects nothing because he is so blinded by his love for Emma. Everything disappoints Emma and, because of her flawed ideals and materialistic values, she can never appreciate what she has. Even motherhood is a disappointment to her because, although she gave birth to a beautiful daughter, she had wanted a boy. Emma, through her own selfish actions, ends up destroying the lives of not only herself, but also her husband and daughter. | ||
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Plot & Themes Time/era of story - 1600-1899 Romance/Romance Problems Yes Kind of romance: Kind of sex: - Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Taboo sex story? Yes Married, fooling around? Yes Main Character Gender - Female Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting Europe Yes Writing Style Sex in book? Yes Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
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