Charles is a country doctor. At first, he marries a woman chosen by his mother. This woman is older and not very kind. She soon dies.
After this, Charles marries Emma. Emma is a farmer’s daughter. She loves to read books and dreams of a life full of excitement and romance.
Charles and Emma move to a small village called Yonville. Emma quickly gets bored with her simple and quiet life. She wants more romance and adventure. Charles is kind, but he is very simple and does not understand Emma’s dreams.
Emma and Charles have a daughter named Berthe. Emma loves her daughter, but she still feels something is missing in her life. She dreams of fancy parties, beautiful clothes, and passionate love.
One day, Emma meets a man named Rodolphe. Rodolphe is rich, handsome, and charming. He sees that Emma is unhappy and seduces her. They start a secret affair.
Emma believes she has finally found true love. Rodolphe promises to run away with her, but he leaves her instead. Emma is very sad and becomes very sick.
After some time, Emma meets Léon. Léon is a young law clerk who also loves books and art. They become good friends, and soon they start a secret affair. Emma travels to the city to meet Léon in secret. She feels happy and alive when she is with him. But, like Rodolphe, Léon also leaves Emma.
Emma starts spending a lot of money to make herself feel better. She buys clothes, furniture, and gifts. She borrows money from a man named Lheureux but does not tell Charles. Her debts grow bigger and bigger.
Emma cannot pay her debts. Lheureux demands that she pay him back. Emma becomes desperate and asks Rodolphe and Léon for help, but they both refuse.
Emma feels trapped and hopeless. She takes poison from the pharmacy and dies a painful death.
Charles is very sad after Emma’s death. He later finds out about her affairs with Rodolphe and Léon. He is heartbroken and cannot tolerate the pain.
Charles dies soon after, leaving their daughter Berthe alone. Berthe has to go live with a poor relative. She has a hard life without her parents.
Emma’s dreams of a better and more exciting life end in tragedy for her and her family.