¶ … Madam Bovary and looks at the character of Rodolphe Boulanger, seducer and womaniser. Also looking briefly at a psychological perspective as to why he carries out his seductions.
Rodolphe Boulanger: Seducer of Emma Bovary
Literature has gone thought many phases, form harsh realism with it social messages and hidden meanings to softer romanticism where the world is see though different eyes and we may indulge in a little fantasy. It is in the latter genre that we may find some very interesting, yet remote characters. For example in 'Madame Bovary' by Gustave Flaubert we can see two strong characters.
Emma Bovary is the heroine of Madam Bovary, she is an alive character who is very conscious of her surrounding, but she has also been criticised as being 'synthetic' (Nadeau 307). The similarities between her and the person who created her have been noted on many occasion, and as such we may accept this correlation, but the character displays potential remains relatively small (Nadeau 307).
However we can also argue that she is created in a very systematic manner, but this does not disturb the approach of the romanticism the author takes, in many ways if builds up the character until we can see how she is made and understand some of the many levels (Nadeau 307).
A key feature of romantic writing is that of the use of the
Just as in most romantic novels there is hardship and problems that have to be faced by the hero or heroine. It is Emma that is given the rough deal, she had the appearance of youth and beauty, and therefore in a romantic novel she must be doomed to suffer.
Another of the main characters that Flaubert has brought to life is Rodolphe Boulanger, in this character we see a man who has see the world, in such a way that he has the wisdom of his time and manner. He understands what life and love is about and as such utilizes his ideals to bring about change.
Rodolphe is actually Emma's first real lover, by seeing the boredom in Emma's eyes he quickly turns it around and uses it for his own advantages.
Moreover, Boulanger is the cold seducer who has no conscience or guilt as to his emotive actions
Flaubert describes Boulanger as "thirty-four; he was of brutal temperament and intelligent perspicacity, having, moreover, had much to do with women, and knowing them well." (Flaubert, PG).
Boulanger we can…
Madam Bovary & Middlemarch Emma and Dorothea Considering the degree of bitter social commentary involved in the two novels in question, it seems obvious that both authors used female protagonists because the issues of the respective societies addressed would be most clearly seen from the female prospective. At the time these works were written, they would have been rejected out of hand if male protagonists had behaved as these two women did. Even
In service to this "religion," she is expected to offer her entire self. Ultimately, although unintentionally, she quite literally gives her life in this servitude. In The Awakening, religion also plays an important role in the female self-concept. Adele for example specifically refers to the Bible when attempting to convince Edna of the merits of self-sacrifice for husband and children. However, it is also true that Adele has no concept
Madame Bovary and Woman in White Generalizations and Comparisons of the Two Novels When looking at these two works in the sense of comparison, one first must say that they are both delicately, brilliantly crafted, and they both have received at least their fair share of plaudits for the excellence they achieved in literature. They both, too, have been controversial. Meantime, the central point of this review herein, is that Madame Bovary
Flaubert believed the emerging middle class in nineteenth century Europe to be unrefined, pompous know-it-alls, and fundamentally stupid. This may help to explain some of Leon's lack of intelligence despite his success -- he has emerged from the middle class. Charles, however, represents many of the problems that Flaubert saw with the middle class, and Emma, additionally, grows to despise everything that her husband stands for. When Charles looks
Danger With Serving the Self in Anna Karenina and Madam Bovary It is a classic human trait to make life more difficult than it needs to be. We live in a me-centered society and those with their focus turned inward usually generate enough drama in the world for the rest of the population. While reality shows like American Idol and America's Got Talent increase the need for money and fame, the
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now