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You're right, NA- the 'proper' thing at that time was to overlook such vulgarities, and certainly not write about them- not in mainstream publictions, at any rate. Flaubert's challenge was to write the anti-Romance, which I think he did to great success. Nothing like a little reality to dispel romantic notions.....
Charles was a good man, but lacked any sort of dynamic- he just sort of plods along in life and accepts good fortune and bad with the same passivity. With anyone else he would have lived an average life and died an average death; it was his misfortune to hook up with Emma. (The same goes for her). I might empathise with Emma, but I despised her for the horrible way she treated her daughter. Anyone catch how poor Charles caught the Romance bug once Emma kicked it? Obsessing over her things, wanting to build her an elaborate tomb and then finally dying of a broken heart.
The very end of the book made me laugh- Homais finally weasels his way into getting the medal. Isn't that the way life is?
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