In both Madame Bovary and reality, romantic relationships are formed not solely on the basis of mutual love but also influenced by factors such as passion and personal gain.
Charles Bovary marries an older woman, hoping that it will bring him an easier life and more freedom with his money (p. 7). However, he is frustrated by the fact that she controls their relationship, dictating what he can say in public and even how he should dress. She also pressures him to pursue unpaid patients at her request and forces him to fast every Friday (p. 7). Both Charles and Madame Dubuc see their marriage as a duty or formality rather than something based on love, which is evident from these actions.
When Charles marries his second wife, Emma, love is not a factor once again. He reflects on her father, noting that “old Rouault was rich, and she!- so beautiful!”(p.15) He is aware that he will be joining a wealthy family and securing a “trophy wife.” As for Emma, she has no agency in the marriage. Her father gives her to Charles in exchange for a dowry. Thus, even before the wedding takes place, she is already treated as mere property by the men in her life.
The mistreatment of men in her life added to her unhappiness, as did the monotony of her daily routine and her innate romanticism, leading her to consider an extramarital affair. A resident of the village named Leon captivated her attention and reciprocated his interest in her. Yet, she resisted acting upon her desires, possibly out of loyalty towards her husband despite harboring no love for him. In fact, she openly expressed disdain for Charles (p. 122). Nonetheless, she refrained from committing adultery with Leon.
Leon is solely interested in Emma for her physical attributes and lacks genuine feelings of love for her. His only goal is to engage in a sexual relationship with her. Nonetheless, when his attempts to seduce her are unsuccessful, he becomes frustrated and chooses to depart for Paris. On the other hand, Emma isn’t devastated by his departure due to discovering her love for him. Instead, she realizes that without Leon, her life has returned to being mundane and devoid of excitement.
Until she meets Rodolphe, a well-to-do type from the suburbs, Emma’s romantic fantasies are unfulfilled. Comparing herself to the women in the novels she reads, Emma seeks to satisfy her desires by engaging in an extramarital affair. However, her relationship with Rodolphe is not based on love. Similarly, Rodolphe does not have genuine feelings for Emma. It becomes evident when he decides to end their relationship upon her attempt to take it to the next level. In his farewell letter to Emma, he feigns emotion by shedding a fake tear.
After being apart for three years, Leon returns to Madame Bovary’s life. However, their reunion does not involve a romantic dinner at home or a night at the opera. Instead, they “consummate the relationship” in the back seat of a carriage. This act raises questions about whether it reflects love or mere passion. Unfortunately, Emma takes her own life due to her financial struggles and broken heart. Surprisingly, Leon does not mourn her death; instead, he chooses to marry someone else. Similarly, Rodolphe also refuses to mourn Emma and denies her the money that could have saved her life. The only person who truly mourns Emma is Charles, her loyal husband. However, his mourning is mainly focused on her beauty. Eventually, Charles realizes that he is financially ruined and passes away. In the complex web of relationships depicted in Madame Bovary, love is not the driving force behind any of them.
