Leon and Rodolpe

For a second there, I’m pretty sure we all thought that Leon was going to be Emma’s lover, he seemed perfect for her---they had common interests and found each other attractive, yet of course it was not to be. Instead of proclaiming their love for one another, Leon leaves for Paris to study and Emma remains. After his unnecessary prolonged departure (he waited so long because of her when in the end, nothing came of it), Emma’s character begins to change. She obsesses over him constantly, daydreaming about him and regretting her silence in proclaiming her love.

The women admired her thrift, the patients her politeness, the poor her charity. But within she was full of envy, rage, and hatred. That dress with the straight folds hid a heard in turmoil, and those modest lips did not speak of her torment. (pg. 117) This is just before Leon is going but it predicts what is going to happen. With all this bent up passion and feistiness being trapped within her, it’s apparent that she will unleash it or someone will unleash it. I’m sure many believed this is where Leon would come in, her knight in shining armor, the man she could love, but no, he is not. And her undeclared love for him drives her crazy to the bone. We see Emma caviling her husbands every step, finding more faults and imperfections as the days go by. All the baggage she is letting build up (unhappy marriage, want to be independent, desire to have an impassioned relationship, etc) will all come out eventually.

So Leon leaves, and now we are left here wondering whom will be the key…but oh--- then comes Rodolphe---charming, seductive and rich. One thing worth mentioning is how he is a foil to our sweet, sincere Leon. Leon was genuinely wanting to be someone worthy of her affections and he is uncorrupted as far as sexual relationships go, for we never see him actually trying to seduce Emma like we see when Rodolpe and Emma have their horseback ride. Rodolpe, older, rich, and lustful sees her and immediately tries to find ways in which he can seduce her, have his fun, and then leave her with no strings attached. And so now we are left wondering what will become of our young, impressionable, spirited heroine.