In 1857, Gustave Flaubert found himself on trial for the publication of his scandalous novel, Madame Bovary (1856). Despite the controversy surrounding his work, Flaubert's writing ignited a spark of curiosity in the public's eye, propelling him from a mere author to a prominent leader in the Realist movement of France.
Born on December 12, 1821, in Rouen, France to Achille and Anne, Gustave Flaubert was the second of six children. From a young age, he displayed a passion for writing and was heavily influenced by Shakespeare, as well as his friend Alfred le Poittevin, a philosopher with a pessimistic perspective. During his education at College Royal de Rouen, Flaubert wrote for the school newspaper and continued to nurture his love for literature.
With the encouragement of his family, Flaubert left for Paris in 1840 to study law. However, after experiencing an epileptic attack in 1844 and losing interest in his studies, he turned to writing. By this time, he had already completed an essay, Memoirs D'un Fou (1901), and a book, Novembre (1842).
Flaubert's essay Memoirs d'un Fou, written in 1838 but not published until 1901, is an autobiographical account of his unrequited love for Elisa Schlesinger, a married woman he met while traveling in the 1830s.
The year 1845 saw the release of Flaubert's L'Education Sentimentale (1869), a novel that delves into the depths of art and love. However, this was followed by personal loss as Flaubert's father and sister passed away in 1846. This prompted him to return to Rouen, where he met his only love, Louise Colet. Their tumultuous relationship ended in separation in 1854.
Unlike many of his peers, Flaubert never married and instead believed that bringing more children into the world would only lead to further shame. He was open about his sexuality and admitted to engaging with both male and female prostitutes during his travels, which resulted in him contracting syphilis.
For the remainder of his life, Flaubert resided in Croisset with his mother and niece, where he wrote various works including novels, short stories, and dramas. He also traveled extensively, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. In 1849-1850, he was accompanied by French writer and photographer Maxime du Camp.
Prior to embarking on his travels, Flaubert read The Temptation of St. Anthony (1874) to du Camp and another friend, poet and dramatist Louise Bouilhet. This fantastical prose poem was received with great enthusiasm, but also sparked suggestions for Flaubert to focus on more realistic portrayals of life in his writing. Upon his return, Flaubert wrote his most famous work, Madame Bovary (1856), which explores the psychological realism of a bourgeois woman. Despite its success, the book faced charges of obscenity due to its social and religious implications.
Flaubert was known to be friends with influential writers such as Emile Zola, George Sand, and Ivan Turgenev, and was a devoted practitioner of Realism. This literary movement strived to depict everyday life and the mundane details, with a particular focus on addressing social and political issues.
During the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Flaubert's home was seized by soldiers, and in 1872, his mother passed away. His written works during this time were not as successful, leading to financial struggles. In his final years, Flaubert's health significantly deteriorated due to his numerous venereal diseases. He eventually passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage in 1880 at the age of 58.
The Franco-Prussian War of 1870 was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the North German Confederation, led by the Kingdom of Prussia. This war was sparked by fears of France's dominance in Europe.
During this time, it is said that Otto von Bismarck, the chancellor of Prussia, pushed for the French to declare war in order to unite four independent German states with the North German confederation.
Gustave Flaubert was a French writer whose literary legacy continues to influence the world of literature even to this day. Born and raised in Rouen, his hometown was caught in the midst of the war, which greatly impacted his writing. Eventually, the war ended with the German siege of Paris in 1871.
Throughout his lifetime, Gustave Flaubert penned numerous books that established him as a prominent Realist writer in France. His works focused on the everyday lives of ordinary people and places, earning him the title of a literary realist. However, Flaubert was also known for blending elements of Romanticism into his writing, elevating French novels to a new level of sophistication. By merging Realism's objectivity with Romanticism's subjectivity, Flaubert created a unique writing style that set him apart from his peers.
Romanticism: A 19th-century literary movement that emphasized subjectivism, imagination, and the heroic nature of individuals. This genre often explored themes of nature, beauty, and sublimity.
Flaubert's writing style seamlessly blended these two genres while staying true to the essence of Realism. He often incorporated intricate descriptions and adjectives to create irony, which juxtaposed the Realist tendency to portray things as they are with the Romantic inclination towards idealization.
Irony: A literary device where the literal meaning of a word or situation is different from its intended meaning.
Flaubert's formal narrative structure typically followed an exposition, confrontation, and resolution. This is evident in the following passage from his famous novel, Madame Bovary:
"Emma went upstairs. The first room was empty, but the second, their bedroom, had a mahogany bedstead with red drapery. A shell box adorned the chest of drawers, and on the secretary near the window, a bouquet of orange blossoms tied with white satin ribbons was displayed. It was a bride's bouquet; it was the other woman's. Emma noticed it. Charles noticed it too. He took it and carried it up to the attic, while Emma sat in an armchair, watching as they brought her belongings. She thought about her bridal flowers packed away in a box, wondering what would happen to them if she died (Part I, Chapter 5)."
In this passage, Flaubert's use of Realism is evident as he describes the bedroom and its contents without any embellishments. He presents objects as they are, such as the shell box and the bridal bouquet. The sentences are short and straightforward, serving the sole purpose of description.
However, as we enter Emma's thoughts, Flaubert masterfully infuses Romanticism to create irony. The bridal bouquet, meant to symbolize love and happiness, is perceived differently by Emma. Instead of evoking positive emotions, she immediately contemplates the fate of the bouquet in the event of her death, extracting a sense of morbidity from something meant to be beautiful.
Flaubert's letters, written from the age of eight until his death, were compiled in the collection "The Letters of Gustave Flaubert, 1837-1857" (1980). These letters, considered great French literature, offer valuable insights into Flaubert's writing style, techniques, political and social views, and personal life. He corresponded with other notable writers of his time, such as Emilie Zola, Guy de Maupassant, Ivan Turgenev, and George Sand. The collection also features letters to his family and his mistress, Louise Colet.
In a letter to Louise Colet, Flaubert wrote, "Everything measurable passes, everything that can be counted has an end. Only three things are infinite: the sky in its stars, the sea in its drops of water, and the heart in its tears." This quote reflects Flaubert's unique perspective on blending Romanticism in Realism. Despite his focus on portraying reality, he recognized the limitless nature of emotions and experiences, which can never be fully captured or measured.
Flaubert's letters are significant as he deliberately kept his personal life separate from his works. Through them, we gain a deeper understanding of the man behind the celebrated works of Realism and Romanticism.
Gustave Flaubert was a crucial figure in the Realist movement of French literature.
Gustave Flaubert was a prominent French novelist, known for his attention to detail and aestheticism in his writing. Born in Rouen in 1821, Flaubert's philosophical beliefs greatly influenced his work and left a lasting impact on the future of literature.
As a self-proclaimed "enraged liberal," Flaubert was a strong advocate for individual protests against despotism. He was a perfectionist, spending countless hours revising and editing his writing until it reached a flawless state. This dedication to his craft earned him a reputation as a master of language and storytelling.
Flaubert's most well-known novel, Madame Bovary, delved into the psychology of a bored woman from the bourgeois class. The book sparked controversy for its depiction of immoral behavior and was put on trial for obscenity. Despite this, Flaubert's literary skill prevailed, and he was ultimately acquitted.
His writing style, characterized by realism and portrayal of everyday experiences and characters, helped pave the way for a new direction in French literature. Flaubert's influence can be seen in the works of other renowned writers such as Guy de Maupassant, Franz Kafka, and Jean-Paul Sartre.
Flaubert's beliefs in Spinozism and pantheism, which view God as an accumulation of substances and laws of the universe, heavily influenced his writing. He saw the world through a philosophical lens, with his work exploring themes of freedom, repression, love, war, and violence.
Flaubert's passion for literature began at a young age, and after dropping out of law school, he devoted himself fully to writing. He spent most of his life perfecting his craft while living with his mother and orphaned niece in Croisset. However, his health eventually declined due to a cerebral hemorrhage, possibly caused by contracting venereal diseases, and he passed away in 1880.
What was Gustave Flaubert known for? Flaubert is most known for his 1856 novel Madame Bovary, which explored the life and psychology of a bored woman from the bourgeois class.
Who was Gustave Flaubert? Gustave Flaubert was a French novelist and a prominent figure in the Realist movement of French literature.
How did Gustave Flaubert die? Flaubert passed away in 1880 from a cerebral hemorrhage, which may have been caused by contracting venereal diseases.
Was Gustave Flaubert a realist? Yes, Flaubert was a realist writer and focused on portraying everyday experiences and realistic characters in his work.
What is the historical importance of Gustave Flaubert? Gustave Flaubert is considered a leader in the Realist movement in France and has influenced future literature and writers. He is also credited with popularizing the use of fictional prose novels.
