2.1 Gustave Flaubert

Gustave Flaubert, a French novelist from 1821 to 1880, shaped literary realism with his influential works. His life experiences, including his upbringing and travels, greatly impacted his writing and the themes he explored in his novels.

Flaubert's meticulous attention to detail, impersonal narration, and use of irony became hallmarks of his style. His works, like Madame Bovary, challenged societal norms and explored themes of disillusionment, moral decay, and the complexities of human nature.

Life of Flaubert

• Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist who lived from 1821 to 1880, known for his influential works that helped shape the course of literary realism
• Flaubert's life experiences, including his upbringing, education, and travels, had a significant impact on his writing and the themes he explored in his novels
• Despite facing health issues throughout his life, Flaubert remained dedicated to his craft and produced several masterpieces that continue to be studied and admired today

Early years

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• Born on December 12, 1821, in Rouen, France, to a prominent family
• Flaubert's father, Achille-Cléophas Flaubert, was a respected surgeon, while his mother, Anne Justine Caroline (née Fleuriot), came from a wealthy bourgeois family
• Grew up in a comfortable, middle-class environment that would later influence his portrayal of bourgeois society in his works
• Developed a love for literature and writing at a young age, often creating stories and plays for his family and friends

Education

• Attended the Collège Royal de Rouen, where he excelled in his studies and developed a keen interest in literature and history
• Befriended future literary figures such as Louis Bouilhet and Maxime Du Camp during his time at the college
• Studied law in Paris at his father's insistence but found the subject uninspiring and struggled to maintain interest
• Ultimately abandoned his legal studies to pursue a career in writing, much to his father's disappointment

Travels

• Embarked on a journey to the Middle East with his friend Maxime Du Camp in 1849, visiting countries such as Egypt, Syria, and Turkey
• The trip had a profound impact on Flaubert's worldview and provided inspiration for his later works, particularly Salammbô, which was set in ancient Carthage
• Traveled extensively throughout Europe, including visits to Italy, Greece, and England
• These experiences broadened Flaubert's horizons and exposed him to diverse cultures and landscapes that would influence his writing

Health issues

• Suffered from a mysterious nervous condition, possibly epilepsy, which caused him to experience seizures and periods of unconsciousness
• The condition, which first manifested in 1844, had a significant impact on Flaubert's life and work, often forcing him to withdraw from social engagements and limit his physical activities
• Despite his health challenges, Flaubert remained committed to his writing and used his experiences with illness and isolation to inform his characters and themes
• Flaubert's health declined in his later years, and he died of a cerebral hemorrhage on May 8, 1880, at the age of 58

Literary career

• Flaubert's literary career spanned several decades and produced some of the most influential works of the 19th century
• His novels, which often focused on the lives of ordinary people and the realities of French society, helped establish the principles of literary realism
• Flaubert's meticulous attention to detail, impersonal narration style, and use of irony and satire became hallmarks of his writing and influenced generations of writers who followed

Early works

• Began writing at a young age, producing plays, short stories, and essays that showcased his developing style and themes
• Completed the first version of his novel Novembre in 1842, which explored themes of disillusionment and the search for meaning in life
• Wrote The Temptation of Saint Anthony, a philosophical and religious work that he would later revise and publish in 1874

Madame Bovary

• Published in 1856, Madame Bovary is considered Flaubert's masterpiece and a landmark work of literary realism
• The novel tells the story of Emma Bovary, a young woman who becomes disillusioned with her provincial life and seeks escape through extramarital affairs and material possessions
• Flaubert's portrayal of Emma's psychological struggles and the societal pressures she faces was groundbreaking for its time and challenged conventional notions of morality and gender roles
• The novel's publication led to a public trial for obscenity, which Flaubert ultimately won, cementing his reputation as a controversial and influential writer

Salammbô

• Published in 1862, Salammbô is a historical novel set in ancient Carthage during the Mercenary War (241-238 BCE)
• The novel showcases Flaubert's extensive research and attention to historical detail, as well as his fascination with exotic settings and cultures
• Salammbô explores themes of power, religion, and the clash of civilizations, while also providing a critique of contemporary French society through its depiction of decadence and corruption

Sentimental Education

• Published in 1869, Sentimental Education is a novel that follows the life of Frédéric Moreau, a young man navigating the complexities of love, ambition, and political upheaval in 19th-century France
• The novel is considered a masterpiece of realism, with its detailed portrayal of French society and its exploration of the human condition
• Flaubert's use of irony and his critique of romantic ideals are particularly evident in this work, as Frédéric's dreams and aspirations are repeatedly thwarted by the realities of the world around him

Later works

• In his later years, Flaubert continued to write and publish, although at a slower pace due to his declining health
• Works from this period include Three Tales (1877), a collection of short stories that showcase Flaubert's versatility as a writer and his ability to adapt his style to different genres and settings
• Bouvard and Pécuchet, an unfinished satirical novel published posthumously in 1881, critiques the pursuit of knowledge and the limitations of human understanding

Writing style

• Flaubert's writing style is characterized by its meticulous attention to detail, impersonal narration, and use of irony and satire
• His works helped define the principles of literary realism and influenced generations of writers who followed

Realism

• Flaubert is considered one of the pioneers of literary realism, a movement that sought to depict the world as it truly was, without idealization or romanticism
• His novels focus on the lives of ordinary people and the realities of French society, often portraying the struggles and limitations faced by individuals in their daily lives
• Flaubert's commitment to realism extended to his extensive research and attention to historical and societal details, which he incorporated into his works to create a sense of authenticity

Attention to detail

• Flaubert was known for his meticulous attention to detail in his writing, often spending countless hours perfecting a single sentence or description
• He believed that every word and phrase should be carefully chosen to create a precise and vivid image in the reader's mind
• This attention to detail is evident in his vivid descriptions of settings, characters, and emotions, which help to immerse the reader in the world of his novels

Impersonal narration

• Flaubert's writing style is characterized by its impersonal narration, in which the author maintains a distance from the characters and events of the story
• He believed that the author should remain objective and impartial, allowing the characters and their actions to speak for themselves
• This impersonal narration style allows readers to form their own judgments and interpretations of the characters and events, without being influenced by the author's personal opinions or biases

Irony and satire

• Flaubert often employed irony and satire in his works to critique the societal norms and values of his time
• He used these literary devices to expose the hypocrisy, superficiality, and limitations of the bourgeois society in which he lived
• Flaubert's irony is particularly evident in his portrayal of characters who are unable to reconcile their romantic ideals with the realities of the world around them, such as Emma Bovary in Madame Bovary and Frédéric Moreau in Sentimental Education

Themes in works

• Flaubert's novels explore a range of themes that reflect the social, cultural, and philosophical concerns of his time
• These themes include the nature of bourgeois society, the disillusionment of the individual, the conflict between romantic ideals and reality, moral decay, and the complexities of human nature

Bourgeois society

• Many of Flaubert's works, particularly Madame Bovary and Sentimental Education, provide a critique of the bourgeois society in which he lived
• He portrayed the middle class as superficial, materialistic, and often hypocritical, with characters who are more concerned with maintaining appearances than with living authentically
• Flaubert's depiction of bourgeois society exposed the limitations and pressures faced by individuals who are trapped within its confines

Disillusionment

• Disillusionment is a central theme in many of Flaubert's works, as characters struggle to reconcile their ideals and aspirations with the harsh realities of the world around them
• This theme is particularly evident in novels like Madame Bovary and Sentimental Education, where the protagonists' romantic notions of love and success are repeatedly thwarted by societal expectations and personal limitations
• Flaubert's portrayal of disillusionment reflects the broader sense of disappointment and frustration that characterized much of 19th-century European society

Romantic ideals vs reality

• The conflict between romantic ideals and reality is another key theme in Flaubert's works
• His characters often hold idealized notions of love, beauty, and fulfillment, which are challenged by the mundane realities of everyday life
• This theme is exemplified in Madame Bovary, where Emma's romantic fantasies lead her to pursue a life of passion and excitement, only to be confronted with the limitations of her provincial existence

Moral decay

• Flaubert's novels often explore the theme of moral decay, as characters navigate a world in which traditional values and beliefs are being eroded by modernity and individualism
• This theme is evident in works like Salammbô, which depicts the decadence and corruption of ancient Carthage, and Sentimental Education, which portrays the moral ambiguities of Parisian society
• Flaubert's treatment of moral decay reflects his own disillusionment with the state of French society and his concerns about the future of European civilization

Human nature

• At the heart of Flaubert's works is an exploration of human nature, with its complexities, contradictions, and inherent flaws
• His characters are often driven by their desires, fears, and limitations, struggling to find meaning and purpose in a world that is often indifferent or hostile to their needs
• Flaubert's portrayal of human nature is marked by his keen psychological insight and his ability to capture the inner lives of his characters with depth and nuance

Influences

• Flaubert's writing was influenced by a range of literary, philosophical, and scientific movements of his time, including Romanticism, Realism, and the works of contemporaries such as Balzac and Stendhal

Romanticism

• Although Flaubert is primarily associated with the Realist movement, his early works were influenced by the Romantic tradition, with its emphasis on emotion, individualism, and the power of the imagination
• This influence is evident in works like The Temptation of Saint Anthony, which explores themes of spiritual yearning and the conflict between faith and doubt
• Flaubert's later works, while more firmly grounded in Realism, still bear traces of Romantic sensibility, particularly in their portrayal of characters' inner lives and their search for meaning and transcendence

Realism

• Flaubert is considered one of the pioneers of literary Realism, a movement that sought to depict the world as it truly was, without idealization or sentimentality
• He was influenced by the works of earlier Realist writers, such as Honoré de Balzac and Stendhal, who sought to capture the social and psychological realities of their time
• Flaubert's commitment to Realism is evident in his meticulous attention to detail, his impersonal narrative style, and his portrayal of ordinary people and everyday life

Balzac and Stendhal

• Honoré de Balzac and Stendhal were two of the most influential writers of the early 19th century, and their works had a significant impact on Flaubert's development as a novelist
• Balzac's sprawling depiction of French society in his Human Comedy series provided a model for Flaubert's own ambitious projects, such as Sentimental Education
• Stendhal's psychological realism and his exploration of the individual's struggle against societal constraints can be seen as precursors to Flaubert's own treatment of these themes in works like Madame Bovary

Scientific method

• Flaubert was also influenced by the scientific advances of his time, particularly in the fields of biology and psychology
• He was fascinated by the idea of applying scientific methods to the study of human behavior and society, and this influence can be seen in his meticulous attention to detail and his objective, impersonal narrative style
• Flaubert's interest in science also informed his portrayal of characters' inner lives, as he sought to capture the complex interplay of emotions, desires, and unconscious motivations that shape human experience

Legacy and impact

• Flaubert's works have had a profound and lasting impact on the development of modern literature, influencing generations of writers and shaping the course of literary history

Influence on later writers

• Flaubert's innovative style and techniques, particularly his use of free indirect discourse and his commitment to objective, impersonal narration, have been widely imitated and adapted by later writers
• His influence can be seen in the works of modernist authors such as James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, and William Faulkner, who drew on his psychological realism and his experimental narrative techniques
• Flaubert's legacy also extends to postmodernist and contemporary writers, who have continued to engage with his themes of disillusionment, alienation, and the search for meaning in a fragmented and uncertain world

Contributions to realism

• Flaubert's works played a crucial role in the development of literary Realism, helping to establish the movement's principles and techniques
• His novels, particularly Madame Bovary and Sentimental Education, are considered masterpieces of the Realist tradition, with their detailed portrayal of French society and their exploration of the human condition
• Flaubert's influence helped to shift the focus of the novel away from idealized or romanticized depictions of life and towards a more objective, accurate representation of the world as it truly is

Controversy and censorship

• Flaubert's works, with their frank portrayal of sexuality and their critique of bourgeois morality, were often the subject of controversy and censorship during his lifetime
• Madame Bovary, in particular, was put on trial for obscenity in 1857, with Flaubert narrowly escaping conviction
• The controversy surrounding Flaubert's works helped to establish his reputation as a daring and innovative writer, willing to challenge the social and artistic conventions of his time

Place in literary canon

• Today, Flaubert is widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists of the 19th century, and his works are considered essential reading for students of literature and lovers of the novel form
• His influence can be seen in the works of countless writers who have followed in his footsteps, and his themes and techniques continue to resonate with readers around the world
• Flaubert's place in the literary canon is secure, and his works are likely to endure as long as the novel itself remains a vital and relevant art form