I have read Madame Bovary, the 1857 French novel by Gustave Flaubert, twice. The first time was a few years ago, but I read it in fits and starts, and I didn't blog about it. I read it again recently, in part, because a group of friends decided to read Anna Karenina, and I learnt that part of Tolstoy's influence for that novel was Flaubert's Madame Bovary.
I enjoyed the book both times, but got more out of it the second reading. My guess is this is generally true of all reading, but there is also something special about the freshness of the first read. I found the novel intriguing and applicable today, especially Emma's romantic disillusionment with life. Part of the original popularity of this book was the fact that it was banned, but it certainly wouldn't be today. Emma is referred to as the original desperate housewife, which wasn't an acceptable conversation in novels in 1857 France, but something we almost idolize today. Further to that, Flaubert reveals Emma's inner feelings, desires, and passions without any moral judgment or critique. His characters simply are who they are, including sensual beings. This is certainly a sensual book, but hardly scandalous by the standards of our day. The sexuality is inferred, and in many respects is what makes it alluring. Many readers related to the feelings of Emma, and the male characters as well.
Charles Bovary is a flawed character, and also betrayed by his own sensuality. He loves his young bride, Emma, after a loveless earlier marriage to a widowed shrew, but in some ways, he is not sensual enough to keep up to his new bride's imagination. His fawning after her is not what she wants, and yet she wants him to be more romantic. What's a guy to do? He becomes more distant and she seeks love elsewhere.
The novel begins with some background information about Charles Bovary, and then some about Emma. From a young age, it seems, that Charles was somewhat dull and Emma was somewhat passionate or had yearnings for more. At times I feel for Emma, being stuck in a 'loveless' marriage, and at other times I feel she is quite selfish and immature. She, from the beginning of their marriage, felt a piece was missing, but she is quick to put the blame on Charles. I wonder how many marriages can relate to this? It is interesting that Flaubert, a male, is writing this about the inner life of a woman. I wonder if he experienced this in his romances because it is written with depth and passion.
Charles Bovary did have some degenerate years when he failed from Medical school before returning to plod through by memorizing the exam questions, not because he understood what he was doing.
Madame Bovary gets bored. This is applicable to our time because boredom, "that spider, that spins webs in every room", is what drives much of our time on social media. Ultimately Madame Bovary is bored and looking for someone else to entertain her. She imagines that she is missing out (#FOMO) at times even imagining that all her friends from school have all moved on and married happily without her.
I find similarities amongst characters from other novels, namely Don Quixote and Pip in Great Expectations. All of these characters are longing for an ideal, I suppose Candide would follow this track as well. I don't know whether to envy her or feel embarrassed for her. The marriage of Emma and Charles has a chance at the start. They both have some life experience, Charles previously married and Emma did live away at a convent, which is something at least. They both seem happy at the beginning of their marriage, which is recounted at length by Flaubert, down to the decorations on the wedding cake and the behaviors throughout the night of many guests. But while Charles seems happy with what he gets, Flaubert has him radiating after their first night together, Emma seems consummately disappointed. Somehow the romance novels she devoured and the passions she imagined did not meet the reality of her situation. She finds herself not living the idealized life she had wished for very early on in her marriage, eventually driving herself to affairs, disappointment, and manic depression, which all conspire to drive her to take her own life. Again, this romanticizing of a life 'out there' is quite pertinent, with many of us gushing over social media posts of lives we wished we lived. He can we meet the expectations of the demands set by the lives posted on social media? How can we not be anxious? A great book, and timely for our day as well.
'Epic'-ness: 22.5: I had heard of this book before I read it, but knew none of the characters or plot. It helped define the genre and is still applicable today.
Enjoyability: 22: I enjoyed this novel, but found that I could put it down. Some of the characters were hard to follow and keep apart, but I think that had to do with the French names.
Eloquence: 23.5: This is a poetic book. It reads like Emma feels. I would love to read it in French.
Exploration of the Human Condition: 23.5: This novel is as applicable today as it was in 1857. It is a bit narrow in its exploration of human idealized romanticism, but all the characters and vignettes show Flaubert's insights into human life.
Epic Quest Total Score: 91.5
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