Thoughts on Madame Bovary

I am currently reading Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. I have read about 140 pages and it is a 400-page novel. I intend to do a lot of reading over this Easter weekend. So far, I have found the novel to be slow paced, but intriguing. It is different than the usual books that I read because it is packed full with description that drags on a little. As a read, Flaubert paints an extremely detail picture of each setting that I am reading about. When I think about the plot, not very much has happened thus far. Emma married Charles, and he is deeply in love with her. The problem is that Emma desires something more exciting and she wishes she were in love with Charles. The couple originally lives in Tostes, but then they move to Yonville because Emma is unhappy/sick. There, Emma meets someone that she falls in love with, and by the reading the back of the book, I am fairly confident they will have an affair. Although, little has “happened” the rich detail (and the necessity for me to write a paper) keep me reading.

As far as a paper goes, I’m not exactly sure what I will write about. Maybe I could focus on how Emma’s education and desire to travel and learn about the world put deep strain on the marriage because Charles was content with a small town and a simple life. In a time period where many woman were not educated, it could we interesting to look into the effect education has on a marriage. I also think it could be interesting to write about how Emma’s high expectations put her in a position that made happiness impossible to achieve. She constantly daydreams about the past, her unmet potential, and her husband’s dullness and lack of excitement. Emma, who desires splendor and riches, is forced to be thrifty and plain. Thirdly, another interesting topic would be pointing out how Charles is in many ways unlucky. His first wife was very in love with him, but he was not in llove with her. His second wife does not love him, but he loves her. Talk about bad karma! I don’t think that could fill 5-7 pages though. I’m sure that as I read more, I’ll get new ideas. I’ve read a little over 1/3 through the novel, and I’m sure the best parts are still to come!