Madame Bovary

Set in rural Northern France, the story follows Emma Bovary, who seeks to escape her mundane life through extravagant spending and romantic escapades. Married to the well-meaning but dull Charles, she becomes enamored with Léon, a kindred spirit. As her discontent grows, Emma's pursuit of passion leads to tragic consequences, culminating in her desperate act of consuming arsenic. Charles is left heartbroken, memorializing her in their home, while the competitive pharmacist Homais faces his own fate. The novel explores themes of desire, disillusionment, and the constraints of society.