[€uroMeinke]

I certainly started being sympathetic to emma - I mean she was trying in every way she knew how to "live a better life." And I undestand in it's time many women identified with her "trapped" situation. Which is why I asked the question above - what could she have done? I think GD pretty much described a contemporary approach, but I don't get the sense that such a thing was even in the mind of a 19th Century provincial French woman.

I think the notion of her being used is a great observation. The townfolks had no qualms indulging Emma's fantasies - as long as there was something in it for them. Cynical to be sure - but it does make Emma a bit more of a tragic character.