Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

Contents
Abstract
Context
Themes
Setting
Characters
Synopsis
Notes on Style
Abstract
Life, loves, and death of Emma Bovary, a beautiful woman married to a small town doctor, Charles. Dissatisfied with her marriage, Emma has a series of love affairs which eventually lead her to social disgrace, financial ruin, and suicide.

Context
Creation: September 19, 1851 - April 1856
Publication: July - December 1856 (1857)
Reaction: Flaubert was tried on charges of immorality stemming from the publication of the novel;
successfully defended himself arguing that the death of Emma shows the novel's upholding of morality and illustrates the consequences of sin

Themes
The failures of the bourgeoisie
The powerlessness of women
The inadequacy of language
Setting
Time: the rule of Louis Philippe
(1830-1848)
Place: part I - Rouen, Tostes;
part II - Yonville;
part III - Yonville, Rouen, Yonville
35 chapters, about 10 pages each


Characters
Emma Bovary
Charles Bovary
Monsieur Homais
Leon Dupuis
Rodolphe Boulanger
Monsieur Lheureux

Emma Bovary
Base and materialistic but also unfulfilled dreamer
A failed Romantic hero
A sort of female Don Quixote
"Madame Bovary, c'est moi" ("Madame Bovary, that's me") (Flaubert)

Charles Bovary
A husband of Emma
A common man
A country doctor by profession
Adores Emma
Despised by Emma
Monsieur Homais
A town apothecary
Materialistic
Self-centered
Pompous
Banal
Shallow
Leon Dupuis
…