55 pages • 1 hour read
Gustave FlaubertA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
329
Novel • Fiction
France • 1840s
1856
Adult
18+ years
920L
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert follows Emma Bovary, who marries Charles Bovary expecting a life of excitement and romantic fulfillment. Disillusioned with her mundane marriage, Emma pursues extramarital affairs and lavish spending to escape her dissatisfaction. Her reckless actions lead to financial ruin and personal despair, ultimately resulting in her tragic demise. The narrative addresses sensitive topics including intimate partner violence, self-inflicted death, and prejudiced portrayals of marginalized groups.
Melancholic
Mysterious
Bittersweet
Dark
Contemplative
Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary is lauded for its intricate character development and pioneering realism, offering a deep exploration of the protagonist's psyche. Critics praise its meticulous prose and critical examination of bourgeois society. However, some find the narrative slow-paced and the characters unlikable, which may impede reader engagement.
A reader who enjoys Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert would appreciate richly detailed narratives, psychological depth, and critiques of bourgeois society. Fans of Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy or James Joyce's Ulysses will likely be captivated by Flaubert's masterful storytelling and complex characterization.
329
Novel • Fiction
France • 1840s
1856
Adult
18+ years
920L
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