Love Vs. Passion In Madame Bovary by Gustave Bovary Essay -- essays re

In an ideal world, like the one Emma Bovary yearns for in the book MadameBovary, romantic human relationships are based on the principle that the twoparticipants are deucedly in love with each other. But in the world Gustave Flaubert paints in his book, as in the real world, passion and personal gain are the solo reasons people enter into a relationship.Before meeting Emma, Charles Bovary weds a much older woman. He&8220had seen in marriage the advent of an easier life, thinking he would be morefree to do as he liked with himself and his money.(p. 7) But he also lamentsthat &8220his wife was master he had to give tongue to this and not say that in company, to fastevery Friday, dress as she liked, harass at her bidding those patients who didnot pay.(p. 7) These are clearly not the signs of a loving relationship indeed, Charles and Madame Dubuc treat marriage as a chore or formality, and not a pleasure.When Charles takes his second wife, Emma, love is, once again, notinvolved. He muses that her father, &8220old Rouault was rich, and she-so fine-looking(p.15) He knows he will be marrying into a wealthy family, and he will be obtaining a &8220trophy wife. As for Emma&8217s part in the marriage, she has no say whatsoever. She is given to Charles by her father in exchange for a dowry. So, before she is even married, she is already treated like chattel by the me...