Madame Bovary

I admit it. I didn't want to read this book; I had started it years and years ago and for some reason never got through the first few chapters. But since the computer system at the Louisville library wasn't working indefinitely due to the monsoon (read: massive flood at the main library) that graced the city a few weeks ago, obtaining a library card wasn't an option until just recently. So, I had to scour through the books we owned in search of something new to read. And then I saw it. Madame Bovary. 'No,' I thought, shrinking back in horror. 'I'll never make it through that book. I already tried.' But then I remembered it was on my list of 100, and I cringed. Sooner or later, I was going to have to make it through Flaubert's oft-controversial masterpiece. I tried to avoid it for a few days, but I finally realized that if I didn't buck up and read it now, I wouldn't have a fair shot at completing the list of 100. And friends, not completing that list is simply not an option. So I settled down one afternoon and began reading.

I don't know why I had such a difficult time making it through the first few chapters during previous attempts at completing this novel because this time, the pages seemed to fly by. Oh yes, there were moments when I thought (or even mentioned out-loud), 'Dang it, Flaubert, I don't speak French! For Pete’s sake, would you please translate what the heck you just wrote there? Just what do you think you're doing- trying to be like Charlotte Bronte in writing Jane Eyre but keeping half of the direct quotations in French? I think not!" Okay, I realize that the whole some-phrases-left-untranslated is not from a direct command given by the author, but rather rests in the hands of the translators and editors... but it still irks me somewhat. I can handle a word or two or even a well-known phrase, but the languages I speak don't exactly help me so much with the 19th century French dialect.  Just throwing that out there.

Regardless, this novel was well worth reading. I found myself thanking good 'ole Gustave for creating such realistic characters for his work. Because neither a dramatic heroine nor a dashing hero makes an appearance in this story, some readers may feel slightly...deprived. But I loved this approach and design because it best aligns with real life. Sure, we all may think we're some sought-after beauty who is going to overcome disaster or some swashbuckling debonair who will rescue the damsel in distress and save the world, but quite honestly, it's just not true. We're flawed, annoying little jerks who sometimes exhibit endearing moments of tenderness...and sometimes treat others with contempt, no matter what the circumstances.

It's similar to the understanding of the typical chick flick as 'girl porn'. Sounds harsh, I know. But if you think about it, women (and let's face it- men as well) begin watching these chick flicks from a young age and continue to watch them throughout their lifetime. And what happens in virtually every romantic comedy? The nice guy gets the girl, the girl gets her Prince Charming, and all is right with the world. But any woman who has experienced life with our Y-chromosomed buddies knows that this isn't always the case. Nice guys don't always finish first, and girls aren't guaranteed a Prince Charming (or any man for that matter). Films such as these give us false hope and misguided expectations by poisoning our minds with the belief that everything works out exactly according to our desires (as in you catching that dream boat or sweeping the lovely lady off her feet), seducing us into believing that life is all about living out the romantic comedy. And when we finally discover that we're not the lead character in that romantic comedy, we are bitterly disappointed with our life.

So it is with Emma, one of the main characters in the novel. Of course she never watched a chick flick, owing to the lack of television in her era, but she read books- books that spoke of love so perfect and true, books that describe love as passionate and breathtaking...and also point out the simplicity of normality. After Emma's marriage, she yearns to feel the passionate and earth-shattering love about which she so often read and anticipated in her own life. And when she experienced the 'chick flick' letdown (that is, that real life is not like the movies/stories and is actually rather hard at times), her life spirals out of control, affecting not only herself but her family, friends, and even her entire town. Friends, our lives are so much bigger than just ourselves! It may not be what we anticipated or what we were told to expect; we can't compare our lives to others (yes, even to Sandra Bullock's character in her latest romantic comedy); we're bound to be disappointed (because we can't live up to that fairy tale notion), and perhaps we might just feel a little cheated in life (because we didn't get the prince, after all).  This is exactly what happened to Madame Bovary.  She felt cheated in life because she didn't get what the storybooks said.  How many young girls alreay feel cheated because they're not dating the Taylor Lautner of their school?  How many young boys feel shamed because they can't come up with the witty responses and gestures Zac Efron always seems to have ready?  How many grown women and men are distressed because their relationships aren't playing out like the ones on the big screen?  Far too many, my friends.  Far too many.  

Flaubert was well ahead of his time when he penned Madame Bovary.  The book received much criticism from his contemporaries (mainly due to moral objections, but I assure you there is no questionable content within the pages), but his work has stood the test of time, offering a deeper insight into human nature, relationships, and desire than one might expect. I agree wholeheartedly with its place among the top ten novels on the list.

Side note: please don't take offense to my appraisal of chick flicks. Typically, I don't watch a lot of chick flicks, but I have watched my fair share. I believe this lends credence to my assessment because I have experienced the 'oh-my-life-is-not-like-the-movies' letdown. True, there are many typical romantic comedies/romantic dramas (aka chick flicks) that I've enjoyed and continue to enjoy, but I try to limit my chick flick (among other specific genres of film, television, and literature) intake simply because of how this medium can affect me mentally, spiritually, and even physically. I hope you will also be aware of how the media (yes, even including classic literature) can affect you.