The Stupidity of the Civilized Man in Madame Bovary and The House of the Spirits

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In Madame Bovary and The House of the Spirits, both Gustave Flaubert and Isabel Allende criticize the stupidity of the civilized man. They set their story during times of technological growth to demonstrate how technology masks the true nature of man. They also characterize their characters to typify their society to disparage the stereotypes of their society, and they manipulate gender roles to prove how women are the dominant partners in relationships, contrary to social beliefs. All of these techniques come together to prove their opinion of man.

Flaubert and Allende set their books during times of great technological change and growth to demonstrate how they feel technology masks the true nature of man. At the agricultural show, Flaubert contrasts the councilor's speech with Emma and Rodolphe's actions to unveil the primal nature of humans even during times of growth. The councilor declares, "Everywhere commerce and the arts are flourishing; everywhere new means of communication . . . establish within it new relations"(Flaubert 186-187). During this discussion of progress, Emma and Rodolphe begin their affair. Emma is unable to stay faithful because Flaubert believes man is just a lustful animal trying to procreate and no progress can overcome this nature. The syntax itself is a representation of the nature of man breaking through progress. Flaubert demonstrates this nature with the back and forth attention between Emma and Rodolphe’s conversation and the speeches at the agricultural show. Flaubert also condemns the new medical techniques and technology through the failed surgery on Hippolyte's foot. Cavinet is an intelligent doctor whom Flaubert praises. Therefore Flaubert promotes his own ideas through Cavinet. Cavinet arg...

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...se of the strength of the women.

Flaubert and Allende thoroughly criticize the stupidity of the civilized man. They both lived in and set their stories during technological change, which they both argue only covers up the ignorant and instable nature of man instead of changing it. They both create characters representative of their society disparaging them as ignorant or selfish. Lastly they manipulate gender roles, flipping men and women’s traditional characteristics. Their criticism of the civilized man moreover criticizes the patriarchal societies in which they both lived. Both societies ended up failing and Flaubert and Allende believe this is no doubt because of the men who ran them.

Works Cited

Allende. Isabel. The House of the Spirits. New York: Bantam, 1982.

Flaubert, Gustave. Madame Bovary. Trans. Eleanor Marx-Aveling. Mineola (NY): Dover,

1996.

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