Weak Woman, Strong Men(Except Charles)

On this second section of the novel there is a clear switch in the roles of the first part of the novel, where the women were strong and the men weak. At the beginning of the novel you could see how Emma and Heloise treated Charles as their subordinate, Heloise would scold him a lot and Charles devotes his self entirely to Emma. When they arrive at Yonville there is a shift in “power” however, although Charles still tends to be weak the other men aren’t controlled as he was. At Yonville Emma falls in love twice, with Rodolphe and Leon, and is disappointed by both. Leon, who develops a tie with Emma because of their common romanticism, leaves to study law in Paris. He seems to be the most likely match to Emma because both of them are feverous romantics and this seems to be what Emma lacks in her relation ship with Charles. The other relationship Emma has is with Rodolphe, a rich landowner from the region, and Emma is quickly swept away by his manners and also because of his wealth. He is much more experienced than Leon in terms of romance, quickly seduces Emma Bovary, her relationship with Rodolphe is terrible to her. She falls in love with him very quickly and the no later the whole town already knows of their relationship, this ruins Emma’s situation with her mother-in-law, when they fight about it. He also disappoints her after not running away with her as they had planned. Although men start beginning to disappoint Emma, Charles is an exception, he is still unable to please her and she is unable to love him and finds him to be incompetent.