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For the film, see Madame Bovary (film) ''Madame Bovary'' is a Novel by Gustave Flaubert that was attacked for obscenity by public prosecutors when it was first serialised in ''La Revue de Paris'' between 1 October 1856 and 15 December 1856 , resulting in a trial in January 1857 that made it notorious. After the acquittal on 7 February , it was became a best-seller in book form in April 1857 , and is now seen as one of the first modern Realistic novels. The novel focuses on a doctor's wife, Emma Bovary, who has Adulterous Affairs and lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life. Though the basic plot is rather simple, even archetypal, the novel's true art lies in its details and hidden patterns. Flaubert was notoriously perfectionistic about his writing and claimed to always be searching for ''le mot juste'' (the right word). SUMMARY ''Madame Bovary'' takes place in provincial northern France , near the town of Rouen in Normandy . A doctor, Charles Bovary, marries a beautiful farm girl, Emma Rouault. She is filled with a desire for luxury and romance, which she gets from reading popular novels. Charles means well, but is boring and clumsy. After Emma gets pregnant and eventually gives birth to a daughter, she believes her life is virtually over. Charles decides that Emma needs a change of scenery, and moves from the village of Tostes (now Tôtes) into an equally stultifying village, Yonville (traditionally based on the town Ry). Emma flirts with one of the first people she meets, a young law student, Léon Dupuis, who seems to share her appreciation for "the finer things in life." When he leaves to study in Paris , Emma begins an affair with a rich landowner, Rodolphe Boulanger. Swept away by romantic fantasy, she makes a plan to run away with him. Rodolphe, however, does not love her, and breaks off the plan the evening before it was to take place, with a letter at the bottom of a basket of apricots. The shock is so great that she falls deathly ill, and for a time turns to religion. Emma and Charles attend the as her only means of escape. She swallows Arsenic and dies, painfully and slowly. The loyal Charles is distraught, even more so after finding the letters that Rodolphe wrote to her. Soon after, he dies, leaving their daughter an orphan. CHAPTER-BY-CHAPTER Part One #Charles Bovary's childhood, student days and first marriage #Charles meets Rouault and daughter Emma; Charles's first wife dies #Charles proposes to Emma #The wedding #The new household at Tostes #An account of Emma's childhood and secret fantasy world #Emma becomes bored; invitation to a ball by the Marquis d'Andervilliers #The ball at the château La Vaubyessard #Emma follows fashions; her boredom concerns Charles, and they decide to move Part Two #Description of Yonville-l'Abbaye: Homais, Lestiboudois, Binet, Bournisien, Lheureux #Emma meets Léon Dupuis, the lawyer's clerk #Emma gives birth to Berthe, visits her at the nurse's house with Léon #A card game; Emma's friendship with Léon grows #Trip to see Flax mill; Lheureux's pitch; Emma is resigned to her life #Emma visits the priest Bournisien; Berthe is injured; Léon leaves for Paris #Charles's mother bans novels; the blood-letting of Rodolphe's farmhand; Rodolphe meets Emma #The ''comice agricole'' (agricultural show); Rodolphe woos Emma #Six weeks later Rodolphe returns and they go out riding; he seduces her and the affair begins #Emma crosses paths with Binet; Rodolphe gets nervous; a letter from her father makes Emma repent #Operation on Hippolyte's Clubfoot ; M. Canivet has to amputate; Emma returns to Rodolphe #Emma's extravagant presents; quarrel with mother-in-law; plans to elope #Rodolphe runs away; Emma falls gravely ill #Charles is beset by bills; Emma turns to religion; Homais and Bournisien argue #Emma meets Léon at performance of '' Lucie De Lammermoor '' Part Three #Emma and Léon converse; tour of Rouen Cathedral ; censored cab-ride #Emma goes to Homais; the Arsenic ; Bovary senior has died; Lheureux's bill #She visits Léon in Rouen #She resumes "piano lessons" on Thursdays #Visits to Léon; the singing tramp; Emma starts to fiddle the accounts #Emma becomes noticeably anxious; debts spiral out of control #Emma begs for money from several people #Rodolphe cannot help; she swallows arsenic; her death #Emma lies in state #The funeral #Charles finds letters; his death STYLE The book, loosely based on the life story of a schoolfriend who had become a doctor, was written at the urging of friends, who were trying (unsuccessfully) to "cure" Flaubert of his deep-dyed Romanticism by assigning him the dreariest subject they could think of, and challenging him to make it interesting without allowing anything out-of-the-way to occur. Although Flaubert had little liking for the styles of Balzac or Zola , the novel is now seen as a prime example of Realism , a fact which contributed to the trial for obscenity (which was a politically-motivated attack by the government on the liberal newspaper in which it was being serialised, ''La Revue de Paris''). Flaubert, as the Author of the story, does not comment directly on the moral character of Emma Bovary and abstains from explicitly condemning her Adultery . Due to this decision some accused Flaubert of glorifying adultery, creating a scandal (a rather groundless charge considering Emma's perpetual disappointment and grim fate). Realism aims for Verisimilitude through a focus on character development. The movement was a reaction to the idealism of Romanticism , a mode of thought which rules Emma's actions. She becomes increasingly dissatisfied since her larger than life fantasies are, by definition, not able to be realized. However, the notion that Flaubert is criticizing Romanticism through the persecution of Emma is complicated by his remark, "Emma Bovary, c'est moi" ("Emma Bovary is me"). Madame Bovary, on the whole, is a commentary on the entire culture of Flaubert's time period, this being clearly illustrated by the focus on the absurdity of the scientific "rational" figures, the uselessness of the church rites, and the self-serving bourgeois Lheureux (who tricks Emma into buying off credit from him). All the possible lifestyles any person would have stereotypically led are represented there, from farmers to viscounts to street whores; all, that is, except for a life of taking responsibility for oneself in such a way as to have concern for others and not one's own glory or profit. TRIVIA
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