Madame Bovary :: Madame Bovary Essays

Madame Bovary   The novel Madame Bovary was written by Gustave Flaubert in 1856. Flaubert was born in 1821, in Rouen, France. His father, being a doctor, caused him to be very familiar with the horrible sights of the hospital, which he in turn uses in his writings. In this novel, Charles Bovary, an undereducated doctor of medicine has two wives in his life. The first, Madame Dubuc, died. Emma Rouault, his consequence wife, after many affairs commits suicide. The doom of Charles and Emmas marriage is described by an elaborate connection of symbolic relations. The relationships of the shutters sealing bang, Emmas long dress that keeps her from happiness, the plaster priest that conveys the actions of the couple, the restless greyhound, and Emma burning her wedding bouquet are all images of eternal doom to the couples marriage.   Charles Bovary first met Emma Rouault when he was on a medical call to give her fathers broken leg. Not long after his arrival Emma ca tches his interest. Her actions satisfy his hearts need for a young, fresh mind and body. The old widow that he is soon married to dies of chagrin. Charles is sadden by this but his mind stays on Emma. After frequent visits to her farm, even after her fathers leg was healed, Charles gives a thought slightly if he would like to marry Emma but he is uncertain. Her father sees Charles interest in his daughter and takes it upon himself to engage the two. He waits until Charles is departing and then confronts him about the engagement. As expect Charles accepts the marriage and the father runs to the augury to receive Emmas acceptance. This was to be shown by the opening of a shutter door. Suddenly he heard a sound from the house the shutter had slammed against the wall the catch was still quivering (Flaubert 21). The sound that the shutter makes is the beginning of an end. The bang seals the never-ending doom of the couples marriage (Turnell 101).   Emmas wedding is a excess occasion. It is held in the far off pasture of their farm. After all the guests arrive the wedding procession proceeds to the pasture.