To the masterpieces of world literature can be attributed a huge number of works. Among them is Gustave Flaubert’s novel, published in 1856, “Madame Bovary.” The book has been screened more than once, but not a single film-making is capable of conveying all the thoughts, ideas and feelings that the author put into his brainchild.
"Madame Bovary." Summary of the novel
The story begins with a description of the young years of Charles Bovary - one of the main characters of the work. He was clumsy and had poor academic performance in many subjects. However, after graduating from college, Charles was able to study as a doctor. He got a place in Toast, a small town in which, at the insistence of his mother, he found a wife (by the way, much older than him) and tied himself up by marriage.
One day, Charles happened to go to a neighboring village to inspect a farmer who broke his leg. There he first saw Emma Rouault. This was a young attractive girl, who was the exact opposite of his wife. Although the fracture of old Rouault was not at all dangerous, Charles continued to come to the farm - as if to inquire about the patient’s health, but in fact then, to admire Emma.
And then one day Charles’s wife dies. After a month, he decides to ask Emma for a hand. The girl, who had read hundreds of love affairs during her life and dreamed of a bright feeling, of course, agreed. However, when she got married, Emma realized that in family life she was not destined to experience what the authors of her favorite books, passion, so vividly wrote about.
Soon the young family moved to Ionville. At that moment, Mrs. Bovary was expecting a baby. In Jonville, the girl met different people, but they all seemed terribly boring to her. However, among them was the one at the sight of which her heart began to tremble: Leon Dupuis is a handsome young man with blonde hair, the same romantic as Emma.
Soon a girl was born in the Bovary family, who was named Berta. However, the mother does not care about the child at all, and the baby spends most of the time with the nurse, while Emma is constantly in the company of Leon. Their relationship was platonic: touches, romantic conversations and meaningful pauses. However, this did not end with anything: Leon soon left Jonville, going to Paris. Madame Bovary suffered terribly.
But very soon their city was visited by Rodolf Boulanger - a stately and confident man. He drew attention to Emma instantly and, unlike Charles and Leon, possessing great charm and the ability to win the hearts of women, he charmed her. This time it was different: very soon they became lovers. Mrs. Bovary even firmly decided to run away with her lover. However, her dreams were not destined to come true: Rodolf treasured freedom, and he began to consider Emma a burden, so he did not find anything better than leaving Jonville, leaving her only a farewell note.
This time, the woman began to experience inflammation of the brain, which lasted a month and a half. When recovering, Emma acted as if nothing had happened: she became an exemplary mother and mistress. But once, while visiting the opera, she again met Leon. Feelings flashed with renewed vigor, and now Madame Bovary did not want to restrain them. They began to arrange meetings at the Rouen hotel once a week.
So Emma continued to deceive her husband and make money, until it turned out that their family was close to bankruptcy, and apart from debts they had nothing. Therefore, having decided to commit suicide, a woman dies in terrible agony, swallowing arsenic.
So Gustave Flaubert finished his novel. Madame Bovary died, but what happened to Charles? Soon, unable to bear the grief that fell on him, he passed away. Berta remained an orphan.