Who Emma Bovary is
Emma Bovary grows up as a farmer's daughter, with an imagination shaped by books she reads during her convent education. She sees marriage to Charles Bovary as a way out of farm life and toward the happiness she imagines. Their home offers comfort and affection, but neither brings the sweeping feelings she expects.
What Emma Bovary wants
Emma wants passion, beauty and a life that feels larger than her daily surroundings. A ball at a château gives her a glimpse of luxury that makes ordinary life seem poorer afterward. She tries drawing, music, reading and caring for her home, yet these activities do not quiet her longing.
Emma Bovary and the others in the story
Charles is devoted to Emma, though he does not understand the source of her unhappiness. In Yonville, the young law clerk Léon Dupuis shares her taste for books, music and romantic dreams. Rodolphe Boulanger appeals to those same hopes, but his practiced courtship means something different to him than it does to her.
Questions
Who is Emma Bovary?
Emma Bovary is a farmer's daughter who marries a country doctor and longs for a more passionate life.
Why is Emma Bovary unhappy?
Her provincial marriage does not match the romance and luxury she expects from her reading.
Does Charles Bovary love Emma?
Yes, Charles loves Emma sincerely and wants a quiet, comfortable home with her. His affection does not mean that he understands her dreams.