Upon his departure, Emma again falls into a state of severe depression. Observing Emma's efforts, Leon believes his love will forever be unrequited, so he leaves for Paris to study law. To counteract this overwhelming emotion, she devotes herself to acting as an excellent mother and wife. During this time romantic feelings develop between Emma and Leon, but as soon as Emma becomes aware of his feelings, she develops a powerful sense of guilt. She is disappointed not to have borne a son, and her sadness persists. In Yonville Emma gives birth to a daughter, Berthe. Emma finds many similarities between herself and Leon, foreshadowing their eventual affair.

Emma and Charles also meet Leon, a law clerk bored with rural life. Homais, the town pharmacist, considers himself an expert on all subjects and greatly enjoys pontificating to excess. During this period of illness, Emma becomes pregnant and Charles decides to move to a new area with the hope of improving Emma's health and realizing a positive future for his family.Ĭharles establishes his new practice in Yonville. Eventually her obsession takes over, sending her into a depressive state. After Emma and Charles attend a ball thrown by a wealthy nobleman, she becomes obsessed with the idea of living a more elaborate and sophisticated existence. Unfortunately, Emma soon finds herself disillusioned with her country life, having aspirations of greater romance and luxury. After marrying, Charles and Emma move to Tostes, where Charles sets up his meager practice. After much time, Charles finally asks her father for Emma's hand in marriage.

Soon after his first wife's death, Charles falls in love with Emma, the daughter of one of his patients. The widow dies soon after the wedding, leaving Charles much less money than he expected. His mother remains very influential in his life decisions she pushes him into medicine and persuades him to marry a widow. Charles becomes a poor doctor who does not earn much respect from his peers. As he grows older, we learn that he is fairly dull and lacks talent in his chosen profession, medicine. An outcast in his new school, Charles does not fit in, and he suffers ridicule. Madame Bovary opens during Charles Bovary's childhood.

Madame bovary