Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary

FLT 252Spring 2012

Realism

Realism

Is it possible to depict reality through art?

Realism

• 19th Century France

Realism

• 19th Century France• Science is on the rise

Realism

• 19th Century France• Science is on the rise• Positivism argues that the world can be explained through science

Realism

• 19th Century France• Science is on the rise• Positivism argues that the world can be explained through science• Biology and natural sciences are popular

Realism

• 19th Century France• Science is on the rise• Positivism argues that the world can be explained through science• Biology and natural sciences are popular• Photography is not far away

Realism

• 19th Century France• Science is on the rise• Positivism argues that the world can be explained through science• Biology and natural sciences are popular• Photography is not far away• Industrialized society

Realism

• 19th Century France• Science is on the rise• Positivism argues that the world can be explained through science• Biology and natural sciences are popular• Photography is not far away• Industrialized society• Writers attempt to depict contemporary life and society

Realism

• In many ways an answer to Romanticism

Realism

• In many ways an answer to Romanticism • Descriptions of everyday and banal experiences

Realism

• In many ways an answer to Romanticism • Descriptions of everyday and banal experiences• Often showing “behind a closed door” behavior, designed to subvert romantic notions

Realism

• In many ways an answer to Romanticism • Descriptions of everyday and banal experiences• Often showing “behind a closed door” behavior, designed to subvert romantic notions• There was a market-orientated aspect

Realism

Realism

Henri-Marie Beyle “Stendhal” (1783-1842)

Honoré de Balzac (1799-1850)

Gustave Flaubert (1821-1880)

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France

Rouen, France

Rouen, France

Paris, France

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter• Began writing as young as eight (1837 first publication)

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter• Began writing as young as eight (1837 first publication)• Educated in his native city and did not leave until 1840

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter• Began writing as young as eight (1837 first publication)• Educated in his native city and did not leave until 1840• Moved to Paris to study law (22 years old)

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter• Began writing as young as eight (1837 first publication)• Educated in his native city and did not leave until 1840• Moved to Paris to study law (22 years old)• Sick with early signs of epilepsy, left Paris

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter• Began writing as young as eight (1837 first publication)• Educated in his native city and did not leave until 1840• Moved to Paris to study law (22 years old)• Sick with early signs of epilepsy, left Paris• Lived with his mother

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter• Began writing as young as eight (1837 first publication)• Educated in his native city and did not leave until 1840• Moved to Paris to study law (22 years old)• Sick with early signs of epilepsy, left Paris• Lived with his mother• Few romantic relationships, yet lots of prostitutes

• Born 12 December 1821 in Rouen, France• Second son of a surgeon and a doctor’s daughter• Began writing as young as eight (1837 first publication)• Educated in his native city and did not leave until 1840• Moved to Paris to study law (22 years old)• Sick with early signs of epilepsy, left Paris• Lived with his mother• Few romantic relationships, yet lots of prostitutes • Died of a stroke in 1880 at 58

• First serious piece: La Tentation de Saint Antoine (started in 1839, finally published in 1874)

• First serious piece: La Tentation de Saint Antoine (started in 1839, finally published in 1874)• Four rewrites, struggling between religion and science

• First serious piece: La Tentation de Saint Antoine (started in 1839, finally published in 1874)• Four rewrites, struggling between religion and science• Read to Louis Bouilhet in 1849

“Throw it all into the fire, and let’s never mention it again […] You muse must be kept on bread and water or lyricism will kill her. Write a down-to-earth novel like Balzac’s Parents pauvres. The story of Delamare, for instance […]”

Title Page of the original 1857 French edition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Madame_Bovary_1857.jpg

• Serialized between October 1856 – December 1856 in La Revue de Paris

• Serialized between October 1856 – December 1856 in La Revue de Paris• Caused a scandal and trial in January 1857

• Serialized between October 1856 – December 1856 in La Revue de Paris• Caused a scandal and trial in January 1857• Trial brought extensive notoriety

• Serialized between October 1856 – December 1856 in La Revue de Paris• Caused a scandal and trial in January 1857• Trial brought extensive notoriety• Acquitted in February 1857 – instant bestseller

• Serialized between October 1856 – December 1856 in La Revue de Paris• Caused a scandal and trial in January 1857• Trial brought extensive notoriety• Acquitted in February 1857 – instant bestseller• 2007 survey of authors:

• Serialized between October 1856 – December 1856 in La Revue de Paris• Caused a scandal and trial in January 1857• Trial brought extensive notoriety• Acquitted in February 1857 – instant bestseller• 2007 survey of authors:

“One of the two greatest novels ever written” (together with Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina)