Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Madame Bovary

Madame Bovary, by Gustav Flaubert

Poor Emma. So bored,
Except for sex and shopping,
While the bills mount up.


I read Madame Bovary for the first time this year. It was an odd experience.  Instead of the tragedy fans of the novel that led me to expect, I got cool observation of materialistic stupidity. Telling reading in a 'credit crunch'.

And what a difference 150 years make.  In 1856 Emma Bovary's search for self-fulfilment in men and pretty clothes made her a dupe for the loansharks and a suicide.

Now she'd be Carrie Bradshaw.  


No comments: