Despite the mentioned instances of romanticism in Madame Bovary, the novel still proclaims that this movement was gradually suppressed by realistic waves. This melancholy later turned into pessimism and realization of moral solitude, as the writer is aware that real life has no meaning. While reflecting on the essence of Flaubert’s ideas, Doering states that “the romantic proclamation of the individual’s right to happiness proved illusory because for him happiness itself proved to be an illusion” (79). As is clear from the summary, her aspiration to go beyond the established reality is impossible because the frames within she lives do not allow her to turn her imaginary world into the truth. Hence, the heroine is more obsessed with her romantic adventures. The writer’s vacillation between pretentious objectivity and passionate subjectivity prevents him from disclosing his full affiliation to the realistic tendencies of the nineteenth century (Doering 80). Flaubert’s deep contempt for reality does not allow him to be detached and indifferent enough for expressing aesthetic distance. Such an apposition generates more deliberations on the nature of the novel’s ideas and insights (Doering 80). In this respect, Emma’s particular visions dictated by her cultural background prevents her from accepting real life.Īlthough Madame Bovary as a realistic novel is widely recognized, Flaubert’s quest of distortions and illusions lead to the idea that the work itself is a protest against the dullness of the existence. The world surrounding the heroine is realistic because reason takes control of emotion. On the other hand, psychological realism still dominates in the novel because all dreams and utmost expectations are shattered in the end. Viewing the tragedy novel as a confrontation between romanticism and realism, the story, on the other hand, provides a romantic and illusionary world created by Emma Bovary to detach herself from reality. Therefore, the author makes use of realism to make Emma realize that the world is not a romantic fable it is overwhelmed with problems and routines (Thornton 982). The heroine is incapable of distinguishing between the fantasy and reality, past and present she also has a false imagination about the man. She lives in a false reality that prevails in her imagination, disclosed through cultural modes of visions.

The character development in the story is presented through Emma’s realization of the imperfection of the world. The author focuses on character development to disclose the ambivalence of the plot and provides realistic details becoming symbolic in light of the romantic recession. In this regard, romanticism is heavily attacked by verisimilitude and disappointment that were experienced by Emma Bovary in her attempts to build an imaginary world full of passion, emotion, and beauty (Flaubert 1033).

Frau Bovary by Gustave Flaubert