The Suppression of Homais in Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert

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Recommended: Madame Bovary Analysis

Gustave Flaubert depicts the inferiority of Homais as a character by suppressing his actual persona with figurative spoken word. The majority of the characters in Madame Bovary reveal their actual personae through their actions and personal thoughts therefore Homais differs from them. The constant presentation of Homais as a minor character suppresses him. Flaubert characterizes Homais’s persona as being an opportunist, strong willed, a distraction, and pompous. Homais’s self-motivation determines his intentions when interacting with the other characters. Homais proves his strong willingness with his struggle to win. He also serves as a distraction for many of the characters from things occurring the story. Homais exhiits pomposity through the manner in which he speaks to the character and the way he receives himself.
Flaubert develops the perception of an opportunist by Homais taking a passive role with characters for the future of his business. Homais does not obtain the characteristic of being passive but he has moments of passivity due to him being an opportunist. Homais portrays himself as an opportunist with Charles and Dr.Canviet because of their importance towards his business. When Charles first arrives at Yonville, Homais befriends him to “earn his gratitude, and prevent his speaking out later on, should he notice anything” (Flaubert 61). Homais creates an importance for Charles and Charles business to succeed in order for Charles not to interfere with his own business. Along with Charles, Homais plays a passive role with Dr.Canviet when he criticizes him. When Dr.Canviet criticizes Homais, he “suffered as he listened to his discourse, and he concealed his discomfort beneath a courtier’s smile; for he needed to hum...

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...s him feel important. Homais displays pomposity to overcome his suppression in his work.
Flaubert illustrates Homais as an opportunist, strong willed, distraction, and as pompous. He uses these characteristics to define Homais as a character. The perception of Homais as an opportunist comes from his passivity for the greater purpose of his work. Homais views every argument as a fight that he has to win no matter the consequences. He constantly distracts characters from situations that are potentially disastrous to them. Homai’s pomposity shows when he constantly tries to prove himself. Throughout the text Flaubert shows Homais’s persona through spoken word, his direct thoughts are not known. The suppression of his actual persona lets his characteristics be show

Works Cited

Flaubert, Gustave. Madame Bovary. Trans. Eleanor Marx Aveings. Mineola (NY): Diver, 1996.

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