Madame Bovary

Madame Bovary was first published in France in 1856 by Gustave Flaubert. Because of the controversial storyline of an adulterous wife, the book was attacked for obscenity. Flaubert even went to trial and after his acquittal the book became a best seller. It is now considered one of the best novels ever written, and in many ways opened the door for the beginning of the feminist movement. 

It's the story of Emma Bovary, a young woman who is captivated by romance and the finer things in life, but finds herself trapped in a dull marriage. Emma finds her husband dull, dumb, and annoying, and is eventually driven into the arms of others. It really reminded me of Kate Chopin's The Awakening.

Gosh, I don't even know where to begin with this one. I realize that Madame Bovary is on Newsweek's list of top 100 novels for a reason, and I definitely credit Flaubert for challenging the norm and I think that he is an incredible writer. However, I did not like this book one bit. 

I hated Emma. I couldn't help it. I wanted to feel for her, and to understand and like her and I couldn't. I found her incredibly selfish and fickle. She would jump into the arms of any man that showed her attention, without any regard for her husband or child. I thought that she was conceited and immature. She nearly kills herself over a man that was never truly interested in her, and prioritizes riches and romance over her real life. Not only is she incredibly hostile and rude to her adoring husband, but she drives him into bankruptcy by pure stupidity and then doesn't even accept responsibility for her actions. 

Ironically, in this book that was so important to the feminist movement, I felt more for the man. From the beginning, I saw Monsieur Bovary as a kind and genuine man. He was so naive and blinded by his love for Emma that he couldn't see her for what she really was. He kept her on a pedestal and adored her, and I just wanted to shake him and tell him that he deserved better. Can you tell I really didn't like Emma?

And here's the thing. I loved The Awakening. I actually felt for Edna Pontellier. I understood her. I found her relatable, and likable. I didn't find a single redeeming quality in Emma Bovary. Maybe by 1899, Kate Chopin also thought that Emma needed to cool it. 

Despite all my personal feelings about her, I still recommend Madame Bovary. And The Awakening. Like I said, both books were so controversial at the time of their release and made such an impact on women's rights and the feminist movement that I think they are important for every young woman to read. And compare. Form your own opinions of Emma, Edna, and Charles. After all, the best part about reading is that no two people ever read the exact same story.