"Madame Bovary". Summary of the novel

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

A huge number of works can be attributed to the masterpieces of world literature. Among them is the novel by Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856, Madame Bovary. The book has been filmed more than once, but not a single film creation is able to convey all the thoughts, ideas and feelings that the author has invested in his offspring.

"Madame Bovary". Summary of the novel

The story begins with a description of the young years of Charles Bovary, one of the main characters of the work. He was clumsy and had poor academic performance in many subjects. However, after graduating from college, Charles was able to study for a doctor. He got a job in Toast, a small town where, at the insistence of his mother, he found a wife (by the way, much older than him) and tied the knot.

Once Charles had a chance to go to a neighboring village to see a farmer who had broken his leg. There he first saw Emma Rouault. It was a young attractive girl, who was the complete opposite of his wife. And although the fracture of the old Rouault was not at all dangerous, Charles continued to come to the farm - supposedly inquiring about the he alth of the patient, but in fact to admire Emma.

And one day Charles's wife dies. After grieving for a month, he decides to ask for Emma's hand in marriage. The girl, who had read hundreds of love stories in her life and dreamed of a bright feeling, of course, agreed. However, when she got married, Emma realized that in family life she was not destined to experience what the authors of her favorite books so vividly wrote about - passion.

Soon the young family moves to Yonville. At that time, Madame Bovary was expecting a child. In Yonville, the girl met different people, but they all seemed terribly boring to her. However, among them was the one at the sight of which her heart began to flutter: Leon Dupuis - a handsome young man with blond hair, as romantic as Emma.

Soon a girl was born in the Bovary family, who was named Bertha. However, the mother does not care about the child at all, and the baby spends most of the time with the nurse, while Emma is constantly in Leon's company. Their relationship was platonic: touches, romantic conversations and meaningful pauses. However, this did not end with anything: soon Leon left Yonville, going to Paris. Madame Bovary suffered terribly.

But very soon their city was visited by Rodolphe Boulanger - a stately and self-confident man. He drew attention to Emma instantly and, unlike Charles and Leon, possessing great charm and the ability to win the hearts of women, charmed her. This time everything was different: very soon they became lovers. Madame Bovary even firmly decided to run away with her lover. However, her dreams were not destined to come true: Rodolphe valued freedom, andHe had already begun to consider Emma a burden, so he did not find anything better than to leave Yonville, leaving her only a farewell note.

This time, the woman developed inflammation of the brain from the experiences, which lasted a month and a half. Having recovered, Emma behaved as if nothing had happened: she became an exemplary mother and mistress. But one day, while visiting the opera, she met Leon again. Feelings flared up with renewed vigor, and now Madame Bovary did not want to restrain them. They began to arrange meetings at the Rouen hotel once a week.

So Emma continued to deceive her husband and squander money until it turned out that their family was close to bankruptcy, and they had nothing but debts. Therefore, having decided to commit suicide, the woman dies in terrible agony by swallowing arsenic.

This is how Gustave Flaubert ended his novel. Madame Bovary is dead, but what has become of Charles? Soon, unable to bear the grief that fell on him, he also passed away. Bertha was left an orphan.