Isn't It Ironic: Flaubert's Use of Irony in Madame Bovary

Madame Bovary is the story of a young peasant woman who grew up in a convent, marries a dull man and commits adultery. Her first adultery is with a ruthless philander and then with a spineless younger man. Overwhelmed by debts hidden from her unsuspicious husband, faced by sudden demands for repayment, disillusioned in love, rejected by everybody who might help her, she commits suicide by poisoning herself with arsenic. In Madame Bovary Flaubert’s use of irony is exceptionally vivid. Flaubert’s use of irony contributes to the character development of Madame Bovary and other characters in the novel. By combining ironic romanticism and literal realistic narration, Flaubert captures his characters and their struggles more than he would be able to by relying mostly on the literal or the romantic.

Gustave Flaubert once said, “Madame Bovary c’est moi” (“Madame Bovary is me”). First off this might seem ridiculous; the situations of Flaubert’s life have nothing in common with those he created for his most famous character. Emma Bovary’s father is an uneducated farmer, whereas Flaubert’s father was a respected and wealthy doctor. Also, Emma dreams of b

Flaubert’s use of irony is apparent throughout the entire novel. In Madame Bovary his use of irony helps you better understand the development of Emma and his other characters. Now when I hear the quote, “Madame Bovary c’est moi” I will have a better understanding of what he meant.

One of the most famous scenes is the scene at the fair. In part 2, chapters VIII, there is a festive, merry event, where animals are displayed, speeches given, and prizes awarded. Rodolphe takes Emma inside the empty town hall to watch the ceremony. When they are alone, he confesses his love for her. The representative of the local prefect arrives and gives a speech about public morality. Rodolphe continues to speak of his love and to urge Emma to return his feelings. She tries to act as she thinks proper for a married woman but can’t resist intertwining her fingers with his. The context of the fair provides ironic contrast to Rodolphe’s seduction of Emma. Flaubert cuts back and forth between the scene of the seduction and the speech on morality delivered by the bureaucratic official at the fair. When Rodolphe tells Emma he loves her, the official presents a local farmer the award for first prize manure. Just the fact that Rodolphe and Emma were listening to a speech about morality while they were starting a scandalous affair is irony in itself.

The first use of irony in Flaubert’s novel is portrayed in part 1, chapter VIII, when Charles and Emma are invited to a Ball. Emma is embarrassed by her clumsy, unsophisticated husband. She is surrounded by wealthy, elegan

Some topics in this essay:
Ball Emma, Madame Bovary, VIII Emma, Rodolphe Emma, XIII Flaubert’s, Similarly Flaubert, Paris Emma, Emma Flaubert, Emma Bovary’s, Gustave Flaubert, madame bovary, flaubert’s irony, irony flaubert’s, “madame bovary, “madame bovary c’est, ironic contrast, rodolphe’s seduction, chapter viii, speech morality, rodolphe writes, public morality, bovary c’est moi”,