My Thoughts on Madame Bovary (Hint: I Think She’s a Home-Wrecker)

Listen, I’m not going to sit here and review this book, because what I am going to be able to say about a book that has been studied over and over again around the world for years and years? Nothing new, that’s for sure. Instead, I’ll share my thoughts with you about the book, and tell you why you should read it if you haven’t yet.

Madame Bovary is the debut novel of French writer Gustave Flaubert, published in 1856. The character lives beyond her means in order to escape the banalities and emptiness of provincial life.

When the novel was first serialized in La Revue de Paris between 1 October 1856 and 15 December 1856, public prosecutors attacked the novel for obscenity. The resulting trial in January 1857 made the story notorious. After Flaubert's acquittal on 7 February 1857, Madame Bovary became a bestseller in April 1857 when it was published in two volumes. A seminal work of literary realism, the novel is now considered Flaubert's masterpiece, and one of the most influential literary works in history.

Why you should consider reading Madame Bovary: 

1. It’s a classic, and I think it’s important that all readers invest their time in reading classics every once in a while! For me, it’s fun to see how literature has evolved.

2. This is definitely one of more the “contemporary”-feeling classics. A lot of famous literature is less about things that are happening and more about the people. While this one is definitely about people, there is a lot of activity happening around our characters, too, which is more typical of contemporary novels today. It felt similar to Tess of the D’Urbervilles.

3. It’s actually quite racy and controversial! This is one that definitely will make your jaw drop here and there.

A few thoughts on Madame Bovary:* 

*If you haven’t read the book there will be mild spoilers!

1. Whelp I had ZERO (and I mean ZERO) sympathy for Emma. ZE. RO. I can’t even construct a scenario where I would feel sorry for her? I do understand that part of her choices were made because she was stuck in the confines of the society in which she lived, but guess what? Those were still her stupid choices, and as a result of them she was an awful friend, wife, mother, and lover.

And also, I’m pretty sure that even if her character were to live today, she’d STILL be awful. Her personality was such that she was never going to find happiness. She was always wishing for more, more, more and even when she had a modicum of something that made her happy, she grew bored of it and moved on to another fantasy.

I was disappointed in her ending. View Spoiler »I hate that the entire story she got to live a ridiculous life by her terms (within the confines of the society she lived in, of course), so it frustrated me that she got to die by her terms too. I’m glad it was a slow, miserable death (because karma), but she should have had to live and endure the horrible bed she made for herself. Rather than chuck her daughter and husband in it. « Hide Spoiler

2. Ugh, Charles was cringe-worthy in the saddest way. What a fool! I felt endlessly sorry for him (maybe he sucked all my sympathy away so that I had none left in reserve for Emma?). And the ending?! Ohhh my gosh. I secretly hoped he’d never find out about Emma’s indiscretions just to spare his simple mind the heartache.

This one definitely a good one! I’m glad I read it and would recommend it to anyone looking to dive into a little racy classic literature.

If you’ve read Madame Bovary, how did you feel about the characters? I’d especially love to hear your side of things if you had an opinion different from mine. (But people who agree with me are welcome to chime in, too, because then we can pat each other on the back.)

A.S. Thornton

A.S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. When not writing, she’s caring for dogs and cats as a veterinarian. You’ll never find animals at the center of her writing, though, because those fictional worlds don’t have veterinarians and her literal brain can’t accept that the poor critters would be without parasite prevention. Thornton’s debut, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING is available wherever books are sold.