Madame Bovary Syntax

Gustave Flaubert used a unique mixture of word choice, syntax, and tone to create a writing style centered around realism. Realism was a relatively new idea in literature when Flaubert was writing Madame Bovary. He used word choice to effectively describe setting. For example, he talked about “… the smoking stove, the creaking door, the oozing walls, [and] the damp floor tiles…,” (page) when talking about a dreary dinner setting, which was common among the bourgeoisie. At this dinner, Emma Bovary became extremely irritated with Charles’ mundane lifestyle. Flaubert also used word choice to exaggerate Emma’s frustration and hopelessness. He talked about “… all the bitterness of life seemed to be served on her plate…,” (page) and “… from the depths of her soul other exhalations as it were of disgust.” (Page) These quotes demonstrate Flaubert emphasising Emma’s misery. This passage in Madame Bovary showed off Flaubert’s use of words to make a realistic point of view of the French middle class.

Flaubert used his descriptive vocabulary to form sentences with special syntax.

Even though most writers do not start sentences with conjunctions, Flaubert uses “but” to start this passage to list several conditions, “But it was above all at mealtimes that she could bear it no longer...” (page) He purposely put the description first for the reader to envision the dull scene, followed by the deep, emotional trauma Emma felt. Later in the paragraph, he mentioned that Charles was slow at eating, and then described what Emma does to cope with her boredom. However, he never mentioned the new antecedent when he talked about Emma. This was to add mystery or blur the ideas into each other to make the sentence sound wishy-washy. Flaubert’s use of syntax in his writing helped build the tone of his

writing.
Tone was a vital aspect of Flaubert’s writing. He combined a serious tone with Emma’s childish longing for more excitement to create a realistic viewpoint of French bourgeoisie. His choice of words and syntax set the mood of the novel. For example, words such as “oozing”, “bitterness”, “creaking”, and “disgust” made the reader feel dreary or murky. This passage describes a dinner table scene, which is often portrayed as pristine. However, Flaubert uses tone to make dinner seem exhaustingly unbearable, just like how Emma saw it. Flaubert’s tone was again seen when he was describing how Emma distracts herself from the monotony. He talked about how she would “nibble on a few hazelnuts,” or “amuse herself making marks on the oilcloth with the point of her table-knife.” These tiny details give attention to how Emma showed her frustration. One could relate to this when tapping a foot when being irritated. Flaubert’s word choice, syntax, and tone provide a realistic writing style that was relatable to readers.