First LoT book club discussion: Madame Bovary

[Prudence]

I thought Emma was a very interesting character. I didn't "like" her, but how could I hate her? She had ambition past her station, and that's not something a woman really had the ability to do anything about then. Heck, just marrying the doctor would have been a coup. She wanted a different life, but all she could get was tastes - through books, a chance invitation to a ball, a wealthy lover, an up-and-coming young lover - but she couldn't ever really HAVE them.

She tried to act like she had them. She imagined dalliances with the viscount from the ball. She planned to run away with what's his name. She acted like she and Leon were married with their "home" in the hotel. All she could have were facsimiles. And they weren't real so they were never enough. She always needed more to maintain the illusion.

And it's different today - but not entirely. I have a lot more flexibility and social mobility than Emma did, but there are limits. No old money family would have tolerated me marrying into the family. There's still classism and men and women still take lovers from opposite sides, but haves are still not going to really run away with the have nots.

There's the obvious message of warning - be careful about wanting too much and not being contented with your lot in life. But it's matched with a situation in which one is particularly ill-suited to one's lot.

[wendybeth]

Great points, Prudence.

A lot of negative observations about Emma, but I felt a bit sorry for her. She was used by everyone to fulfill their own fantasies and desires, yet she is the one who is most criticised. I find that interesting.