Untitled

Why look at Charles Bovary? Simply because it is actually the protagonist of the novel by Gustave Flaubert. Indeed, what is it that can boast of being present since the incipit, the beginning of the novel ( "dressed in a new bourgeois") to plead the very end of the novel (he died ")? While it is not the title character. Although the novel is not primarily focused on him. However, without him, the work would be meaningless. What is the person who drove Emma to go to Rudolph, then to Leon? Who is this that allows Flaubert to talk so much medicine, and then through him to express his notion of realism? It is indeed Charles, the husband of Madame Bovary, and so we will try to explain what is so important.

 

A: An uninteresting life? :

 

I: A youth harbinger of his future life:

 

Gustave Flaubert did for the first time alluded to Charles in the opening words of "Madame Bovary". He speaks of "a new dress in mufti." It's also a scene to say the least humiliating to follow. The novel begins in fact by the very famous episode of "cap". This scene is the first contact between the reader and Charles. It has thus a rather bad idea and it is not very respected by others, without reacting.

 

His father, Charles Denis Bartolome Bovary, is a former assistant surgeon general staff. Parallel with the father of Gustave Flaubert. Her life consisted of a series of failures. It will see an end similar to that of his son, namely "disgusted men. His wife, whom no one knows the name, however this is throughout the novel. She was deceived by her husband, had been upset, but finally agreed. Just like his son, except he did not know ... To conclude his parents, their character and their lives are harbingers of the life of Charles. Meaning of heredity expensive to Zola.

 

Regarding his education, he follows with a priest, then was sent to Rouen a few years later. It is a normal student, without personality, who complied, and without talking. His mother decides his''career''he become a doctor, even if he does not understand science and biology. It fails even to contest health officer, but he eventually succeeds.

 

It remains to choose the city where to settle. That will be soon. There is also a woman to find. This is called Madame Dubuc.

 

II: The failure of his first marriage:

 

He then married with the charming Ms. Dubuc ... Charming is a big word! Indeed, it would be rather ugly, tyrannical, and mostly rather old compared to him, being forty-five. She even watches each of her consultations female ... We can not say that this is a brilliant success! But "one night about eleven o'clock they were awakened by the sound of a horse pulling up the door ...

 

III: The turning point in his life, his meeting with Emma:

 

So when a simple medical consultation that Charles will cross the love of his life, namely Emma Rouault. Circumstances at first. Nothing is ready! It's dark, it's four o'clock in the morning, and there is a farm. And Emma likes him a lot. And so now it comes every week in Berteaux, to see Emma. But his wife does not like, and she refuses to return it. Subsequently, luck! Ms. Dubuc dies! It is still sad, "she loved him after all."

 

IV: Early marriage and relocation to Yonville:

 

Once past the grief, he finally decides to try asking in marriage to Emma Rouault Fr. And this is where we see the lack of courage of Charles: he dare not openly seek it elsewhere simply to say: "Father ... Rouault, Rouault, stammered Charles." Once this is accepted, it must now hold the marriage. A marriage in which Charles did not "flashed" it. He does not talk too much, and we did not really think he's happy to marry. What decides a little with all the ensuing years, where he will be the happiest man in the world with Emma. It is total love, but non-reciprocal, we shall return ... It is still his mother, who is not so satisfied with her daughter, as too extravagant: "Charles did not know what to say he respected his mother and he loved his wife very much, he considered the decision of the one infallible, and yet it was another flawless.

 

And here comes the famous ball at Vaubyessard Charles has received an invitation, who has cared for the equally famous Marquis. The ball was going pretty well for him, despite his sore feet, which prevented him from dancing. A year passes. And Emma goes wrong, it feels bad, and Charles wants to heal, loving more than anything. He decided to leave Tostes, and moved to Yonville-l'Abbaye. And good news, he will have a child!

 

We can say now that it's the end of the story of Charles in itself, since the other two parts of the novel will be much more dedicated to Emma, and the role of Charles will be greatly reduced compared to the first part .

 

The first days of Charles Yonville-l'Abbaye for Charles are marked by the encounter with the pharmacist in the village, called Homais. It is indeed very nice to Charles. It is true that it is especially unfair competition, giving "anodyne consultations in his back room." And the customer does not come for the poor doctor ... Fortunately, the birth of his daughter Bertha cheer him up. However, he has no suspicion vis-à-vis the liaison between his wife and Leon.

 

Later, he wonders about the health of his wife. He finds that his wife is ill, and he knows what to do. Chance! The arrival of Rodolphe Boulanger timely. It takes Emma to ride ...

 

V: The operation failed Hippolyte:

 

Fortunately, Charles has an opportunity to revive somewhat with his wife, with the first detachment of Rudolph vis-à-vis Emma, and especially the operation of his life, that of Hippolytus Tautain, who suffers a clubfoot. Emma becomes madly in love with him. Everything is fine. But finally, Hippolyte's leg gangrene and therefore the operation of Charles is a complete failure, since we must now cut and use a reputable surgery. This reverses the affects, of course, but it is still in love with Emma, he dreams of happiness and travel. What he does not know is that Rudolph is not he who dream Emma ...

 

Subsequently, after the departure of Rudolph, and the attempted suicide of his wife, Charles decides to watch day and night on his wife to help heal without suspecting the real reason why his wife is ill, believing it is a "brain fever". "And the poor boy, by this point, had concerns of money! In fact, terrible money problems await the couple ... He was indebted to treat his wife, but also because it has spent lavishly to satisfy their travel plans with Rudolph. And what does he do? It borrows! Most importantly, pharmacists, Homais, has an excellent idea is that of taking his wife to go see an opera in Rouen! ...

 

VI: The evening in Rouen:

 

So Charles, backstage at the opera, a good idea to meet with Leon, and hence misses the opera that night in part. Charles has a good idea, simple as it is: that is to propose to Emma to see the opera company in the aftermath of Leon! Obviously, this is an opportunity for Emma to reconnect with Leon ... Moreover, Charles permitted to visit once a week to Rouen to take courses in piano. What credulity on the part of Charles! But Emma is a grave mistake ...

 

VII: The doubt sets in, or at least could live ...:

 

Indeed, one evening, she decides to sleep in Rouen. But Charles, anxious, no news, decides to go looking for him. He goes to his alleged piano teacher. She is not aware of anything. Finally, he found. She invents a preposterous story. He might have some suspicions, he still trusted his wife ... Moreover, he ignores the debt abyss in which his wife has plunged the couple. Meanwhile, his father died, and he did not even have the courage to tell Emma ...

 

VIII: The shock of the death of Emma:

 

One day, returning home, he learns that his house was seized, without even having been informed earlier. Panicked by the attitude of Emma, and especially by reading a letter: "Poisoned! Poisoned! "It sends immediately search for Felicite medications so that you heal his wife who seems to have swallowed arsenic. Finally, she died a few hours later, and so all his life collapses with his death, we shall return ... Charles threw himself upon her, crying Adieu! Farewell! "

 

IX: The terrible discovery: the letter and debts ...:

 

After holding a funeral fatal, it's back to reality for Charles. He discovers his considerable debt: "Every debt he paid Charles thought it had finished. It occurs more continuously. Then he discovered the letter from Rudolph: "They may be loved Plato," he said. He thinks that all men loved, and she appeared in more beautiful. It meets even one day Rudolph: "I do not want you," he said. Rodolphe remained silent. And Charles, his head in his hands, "said a faint voice and with the resigned accent of infinite sorrow: No, I do want more! He even added a big word, the only one he ever says is the fault of fate! The next day, Charles dies, holding his hands "a long lock of black hair."

 

B: An ordinary doctor without jealousy

 

I: Profession: doctor

 

Gustave Flaubert why he wanted to become doctor Charles Bovary? Simply to express his vision of realism. Indeed, particularly in Chapter 11 of Part II, Flaubert has the opportunity to stun us with terms that would make fun of a teacher at a French dictation, but also to account for medical advances of the time . It speaks well for horses, varus, valgus of stréphocatopodie of stréphendopodie of stréphexopodie ...

 

Still remember that Charles was absolutely not intended for medical career: "The curriculum, he read the poster, he made a stunning effect: courses in anatomy, pathology, physiology, pharmacy, chemistry, botany ... "So also where Flaubert fun to describe all branches of medicine from the mid-nineteenth century.

 

Regarding his job, can not really say he is passionate. However, there are four key moments in his career:

 

    • Night in Berteaux and his meeting with Emma

    • The ball at the Vaubyessard, reward for having treated the Marquis

    • The operation failed Hippolyte who signs a stop in his climb

    • The dismay at the death of his wife, he, the village doctor

 

So much for what is his profession, now see his character ...

 

II: A man fade:

 

One word shows his personality: normal! This man is normal, it did not really think it follows the other, he dares to take decisions. We can cite numerous troubles for the health of his wife and ill-being, which he will never meet.

 

It is also a man who is tremendously courageous. Three examples:

 

    • His proposal of marriage, which is somewhat circuitous, not daring to actually say to the Father Rouault

    • The announcement of the death of his father to Emma, who told through Homais, and learns where the bottle of arsenic, causing its loss

    • The face to face with Rudolph when he dares to get angry

 

And speaking of Rudolph, was obviously the wrong man par excellence ...

 

III: The wrong man without realizing it ... !

 

Indeed, over 400 pages of the novel, he is aware that from page 395 ... And yet, it's once widow he learns. What is striking about him is on one hand its great simplicity, especially when he goes in search of Emma in Rouen, and she invents a story to sleep standing on his piano lessons. Instead, it was with Leon.

 

On the other hand, is an extremely gullible. It may allude to his too great confidence in Rudolph. Thus, he accepts that he go take his wife to ride with him.

 

Finally, he learns the relationship with his wife just after Rudolf's death, and he pronounced the famous phrase: "It is the fault of fate" Hence a man who can say devoid of jealousy ...

 

Furthermore, it detects signs of failure of their marriage.

 

C: The failure of love with Emma:

 

I: The warning signs of a miserable failure:

 

Indeed, one can cite many moments that begin to meet until early marriage with Emma

 

      • The description of the body of Emma where he enjoys his nails white ivory and especially his beautiful eyes, but does not like his hands. In addition, she is dressed in blue.

      • The proposal of marriage completely failed

      • Marriage in itself is far from being a beautiful feast

      • The ball at the Vaubyessard which "drives the point"

      • The night Charles said he was humbled by another doctor

 

But there was a moment in the novel where Charles Emma loved more?

 

II: A love-crazy but not reciprocal:

 

Well no! Surprising as it may sound, Charles, totally the opposite of Emma, as has always loved Emma, either at the beginning of marriage, after the ball at Vaubyessard, during and after surgery failed to Hippolytus and after his death, we return shortly.

 

So one can pathos of this poor man: to have always loved to madness, but never provided it is reciprocal.

 

And we will now proceed to love post-mortem, that is to say after the death of Emma, and interesting comments to make ...

 

III: Love post-mortem:

 

Indeed, one can say, and I do not know if some of you have noticed is that Charles never much resembled his wife after his death. The text says so, too: "To please her, as if she was alive, he adopted her predilections, her ideas, he bought the patent leather boots, he took the use of white ties. He put cosmetics on his mustache, he purchased it as promissory notes. She corrupted beyond the grave. "Moreover, it holds great funeral and very worthy representative of his love for her:" I want to be buried in her wedding dress with white shoes, a crown. He spread the hair on the shoulders, three coffins, one oak, one mahogany, one of lead. Do not tell me nothing, I have the strength. He will over a large piece of green velvet. I will. Do it. And this death so sad, sitting on a bench, with the heat of those days when nothing happens, dead of grief, with a lock of hair from the love of his life.

 

Conclusion:

 

Thus, Gustave Flaubert was certainly the story of Emma, but we also recounted living a monotonous life, a life of love, life altogether sad is that of Charles, the husband of Madame Bovary . From his childhood to his first marriage, his meeting with Emma in the death of the latter is especially a life filled with failures, the most important one of his love life, it has been fatal.