Death Over Life in Flauberts Madame Bovary Essay -- Madame Bovary Ess

Death Over Life in Flauberts Madame Bovary Often in literature, a character is found that is quite memorable. Never was this more true than in Flauberts Madame Bovary. To some, Emma Bovarys action at the end of the novel was drastic and unnecessary new(prenominal)s believed her remnant to be the end of the natural progression of the story. However, Emmas decision to commit suicide was relatively simple, yet came as a last resort. She had exhausted all the other options she felt were available, and in the end made her plan based on finances, lost love, and the sheer boredom of her life. One motivation for Emmas suicide was her financial problems. She exhausted extravagant amounts of her husband, Charles, money on dresses, scarves, and house decorations. More money was expended for Emmas music lessons, which were actually her alibi for her affair with Leon. Also, she had spent too much money term preparing to run off with Rodolphe, a journey that never occurred. All Emmas debts piled up, then came due at the same time she tried to put them out of her mind, to no avail. She even went as far as to beg money from Rodolphe, her former lover, who rejects her. After leaving Rodolphe Emma is angry she has lost her normal ability to reason, but could hushed make a decision (Roe 42). As she could not forget, she devised, in a moment of Emma-style logic, the solution to her problems. So, ...in an ecstasy of heroism, that made her almost joyous, she ran down the hill...and reached the chemists storehouse (Flaubert 221-222). Once at the chemists, she frantically ingests a lethal dose of arsenic. It is tragic that the only release from her problems Emma could see was death. Emmas failed love af... ...cide became her only option, and having taken the action she purpose necessary, ...she went home, suddenly calmed, and with something of the serenity of one who had performed a duty (Flaubert 222). However, Emmas death was not serene it was vi olent and grotesque. Ironically, she did finally achieve tragic romance heroine status she died young, penniless, and heartbroken. kit and boodle Cited Buck, Stratton. Gustave Flaubert. University of the South Twayne. 1966. 68-72. Flaubert, Gustave. Madame Bovary. New York Dover. 1996. Green, Frederick C. French Novelists From the Revolution to Proust. New York Frederick Ungar, 1964. 233. Roe, David. Gustave Flaubert. New York St. Martins, 1989. Turnell, Martin. Madame Bovary. Flaubert A Collection of Critical Essays. Ed. Raymond Giraud. Englewood Cliffs Prentice-Hall, 1964.