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Motifs
Definition of Setting
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or it can be an imagined... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the city of New York, or... read full definition
Setting is where and when a story or scene takes place. The where can be a real place like the... read full definition
Setting
Explanation and Analysis:
Madame Bovary is set in various provincial towns in mid-19th-century France: Tostes, Yonville, and Rouen. These smaller settings contrast with Emma’s dreams of adventurous travels and the lavish city of Paris. The realistic depiction of these towns heightens how dull and confining Emma views her real life, especially as she finds herself isolated among the residents of the small town. Emma has very specific and high standards as to where she believes love can be produced, none of which the provincial towns meet, highlighting her growing frustration with the seeming unattainability of love.
Related Themes:
