Madame Bovary - Penn State University

Madame Bovaryfrom habit or from corruption, and each day she hungered She would have liked not to be alive, or to be always asleep.after them the more, exhausting all felicity in wishing for too On Mid-Lent she did not return to Yonville, but in themuch of it. She accused Leon of her baffled hopes, as if he evening went to a masked ball. She wore velvet breeches, redhad betrayed her; and she even longed for some catastrophe stockings, a club wig, and three-cornered hat cocked on onethat would bring about their separation, since she had not the side. She danced all night to the wild tones of the trombones;courage to make up her mind to it herself.people gathered round her, and in the morning she foundShe none the less went on writing him love letters, in virtue herself on the steps of the theatre together with five or sixof the notion that a woman must write to her lover. masks, debardeuses* and sailors, Leon’s comrades, who wereBut whilst she wrote it was another man she saw, a phantomfashioned out of her most ardent memories, of her fin-The neighbouring cafes were full. They caught sight of onetalking about having supper.est reading, her strongest lusts, and at last he became so real, on the harbour, a very indifferent restaurant, whose proprietorshowed them to a little room on the fourth floor.so tangible, that she palpitated wondering, without, however,the power to imagine him clearly, so lost was he, like a god, The men were whispering in a corner, no doubt consortingbeneath the abundance of his attributes. He dwelt in that azure about expenses. There were a clerk, two medical students,land where silk ladders hang from balconies under the breath and a shopman—what company for her! As to the women,of flowers, in the light of the moon. She felt him near her; he Emma soon perceived from the tone of their voices that theywas coming, and would carry her right away in a kiss. must almost belong to the lowest class. Then she was frightened,pushed back her chair, and cast down her eyes.Then she fell back exhausted, for these transports of vaguelove wearied her more than great debauchery.The others began to eat; she ate nothing. Her head was onShe now felt constant ache all over her. Often she even receivedsummonses, stamped paper that she barely looked at.fire, her eyes smarted, and her skin was ice-cold. In her head* People dressed as longshoremen.248