LITERATURE - Gustave Flaubert

Summary

The script celebrates Gustave Flaubert, a 19th-century French novelist, for his masterpiece 'Madame Bovary,' which explores the tragedy of a woman's disillusionment with marriage and societal expectations. Flaubert's work challenges the reader's judgment and empathy, reflecting on the impact of romantic literature and the rise of mass media. The script also touches on Flaubert's disdain for bourgeois values and his aspiration to be a global citizen, advocating for his literary legacy as a testament to his earthiness, humanity, and generosity of spirit.

Takeaways

• 📚 Gustave Flaubert is renowned for his masterpiece 'Madame Bovary', which he meticulously crafted over five years and published in 1857.
• 🔍 Flaubert's work is celebrated for its profound exploration of human failure and tragedy, challenging conventional moralistic views.
• 🕊️ 'Madame Bovary' is inspired by the real-life story of Delphine Delamare, whose tragic end sparked Flaubert's interest.
• 👀 The novel invites readers to empathize with the protagonist's struggles, highlighting the complexities of marriage and life.
• 📈 Flaubert's narrative technique oscillates between sympathy and irony, reflecting the multifaceted nature of human experience.
• 📖 Emma Bovary's dissatisfaction with marriage is attributed to her exposure to unrealistic romantic novels.
• 🗞️ Flaubert was critical of the rise of mass media, viewing it as a source of 'la bêtise' or stupidity, which he believed spread superficial understanding.
• 📚 His 'Dictionary of Received Ideas' satirizes clichés and superficial thinking, showcasing Flaubert's disdain for uncritical acceptance of ideas.
• 🏛️ Despite his bourgeois background, Flaubert despised many aspects of the French bourgeoisie, including their pomposity and narrow-mindedness.
• 🌍 Flaubert aspired to be a 'global citizen', rejecting the notion of national pride and advocating for a broader, more inclusive perspective.
• 🎨 Flaubert's works are a testament to his earthiness, humanity, frankness, and generosity of spirit, making him a significant figure in literature.

Q & A

Who was Gustave Flaubert and why is he significant in French literature?

Gustave Flaubert was a renowned 19th-century French novelist, best known for his work 'Madame Bovary'. He is admired not only for his literary genius but also for his critique of society. Flaubert is significant for revolutionizing the novel form, particularly with his use of realism and exploration of human folly and tragedy.

What is the central theme of Flaubert’s novel 'Madame Bovary'?

'Madame Bovary' explores the theme of dissatisfaction with life, focusing on the tragedy of Emma Bovary, who becomes disillusioned with her marriage and pursues affairs, leading to her eventual downfall. It examines the complexities of human desires, the limitations of societal norms, and the devastating consequences of romantic illusions.

What event in real life inspired Flaubert to write 'Madame Bovary'?

Flaubert was inspired by a news story from 1848 about a 27-year-old woman named Delphine Delamare, who lived near Rouen, France. Like the fictional Emma Bovary, Delamare became dissatisfied with her marriage, accumulated debt, and eventually committed suicide. This tragic event provided the framework for the novel's plot.

How does Flaubert depict Emma Bovary’s character in the novel?

Flaubert portrays Emma Bovary as a deeply flawed and tragic character. Though she engages in affairs and makes reckless decisions, the novel elicits sympathy for her rather than judgment. Flaubert shows her sensitivity, emotional struggles, and the internal conflicts that lead to her tragic end, challenging the reader’s moral perspective.

What is Flaubert's view on the influence of romantic novels on Emma Bovary?

Flaubert criticizes the romantic novels that Emma Bovary read in her youth, which gave her unrealistic expectations about love and life. These novels left her unprepared for the mundane realities of marriage, leading her to seek excitement through affairs and extravagant purchases, ultimately contributing to her downfall.

What is Flaubert’s criticism of the rise of mass media in his time?

Flaubert was critical of the rise of mass media and newspapers, believing they spread 'la bêtise' or stupidity. He thought newspapers encouraged superficial knowledge and fostered idiocy by simplifying complex subjects like politics, theology, and science, thus promoting narrow-mindedness and foolishness in society.

Who is the character Homais in 'Madame Bovary', and what does he represent?

Monsieur Homais is the town pharmacist in 'Madame Bovary' and is depicted as an avid consumer of newspapers. Flaubert uses Homais to satirize the bourgeois class and their superficial reverence for knowledge, as well as their ignorance despite an obsession with news and information.

What is 'The Dictionary of Received Ideas', and what does it reveal about Flaubert's worldview?

'The Dictionary of Received Ideas' is a posthumously published collection of clichés compiled by Flaubert, which he described as an 'encyclopedia of human stupidity.' It reveals his disdain for thoughtless acceptance of popular opinions and his critique of how society, especially the bourgeoisie, embraced shallow and uninformed ideas.

How did Flaubert feel about his own bourgeois background?

Although Flaubert was a member of the French bourgeoisie, he loathed much about his class, particularly their prudery, racism, snobbery, and pomposity. He found their mindset to be narrow and hypocritical, and he often expressed his frustration with the banalities of bourgeois life in his personal writings and his works.

What was Flaubert's philosophy about nationality and identity?

Flaubert rejected the notion of national identity, stating that he was neither modern nor ancient, nor particularly tied to any country. He saw nationalism as narrow-minded and preferred to consider himself a 'soul brother' to all living beings, whether human or animal, emphasizing a universal connection rather than attachment to one country.