Madame Bovary Lesson Plan

What would it have taken for Emma to have truly changed her ways after her failed affair?

Emma's turn to religion was one element that allowed her to set herself on the right path after her failed affair with Rodolphe. But some students might say that such a change was too superficial, since Emma never really changed her way of thinking about the world. As with her efforts to rekindle her love for Charles, Emma continues to see herself as subject to a dull and unworthy life in the country, thus making a virtue of her suffering.

Emma’s turn to religion after her affair with Rodolphe suggests that these two things may have something in common. Do you think this is true?...