Kugelmass Episode Analysis

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Literary Analysis Essay
“The Kugelmass Episode” delivers a satisfying glimpse into the world of adultery, along with plenty of humor to clinch the attention of the reader. The humor is not only used for entertainment purposes but rather for leeway into the implication of the story as a whole. The story’s plot revolves around an affair the main character wants to have, and the humor the story delivers allows the reader to clearly understand the significance of the story and why the humor is vital to the main character’s actions. The beginning of “The Kugelmass Episode” is particularly funny and carries a great deal of meaning to the proceedings of the story. The main character, Sidney Kugelmass, is noticeably discouraged with his current wife
The Great Persky (the magician) answers the door and Kugelmass is blown away by what Persky tells him. Persky points to a cabinet and instructs Kugelmass he can send him to any novel he chooses by tapping on the cabinet with him and the novel inside. Once again, the idea that taking the easy way out may lead to a dead end is appropriate to apply here since Kugelmass is willing to perform such a foolish yet simplistic act to have an affair with his wife. Kugelmass is precise with his choice as he states, “What about Emma Bovary? That sounds to me perfect.” (Allen 349) With three quick taps on the cabinet, Kugelmass is released into the novel and appears in the bedroom of Emma and her husband,
Emma confesses she is wishing to leave her spouse also. At this point in the story, both main characters want to have affairs and signs point to trouble from here on out. Not only is Kugelmass being deceiving and sneaky toward his wife, he is also creating a dilemma in the book Madame Bovary. Kugelmass’s lack of intelligence and desire for love cause the French-based novel to alter. “I cannot get my mind around this,” a Stanford professor said. “First a strange character named Kugelmass, and now she’s gone from the book.” (Allen 354) Kugelmass did not account for the consequences he might face before leaping into the book with Emma and the thought of always using your best judgment obviously did not factor into Kugelmass’s decision.
Dating back to the humor from the beginning of the story, Kugelmass’s decision to have an affair is now affecting the actual novel of Madame Bovary. Kugelmass can now affect the events of the story and can alter the way the story is told, not to mention others reading Madame Bovary are picking up on this quite

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