Charles Bovary is a simple country doctor, who at first marries a woman chosen by his mother. His wife, a sickly older woman, soon passes away. Charles is left alone and heartbroken.
After her death, Charles marries Emma, the beautiful and spirited daughter of a farmer named Rouault. Emma captivates Charles with her beauty and charm, and he believes he has found happiness again.
Emma had been raised in a convent, where she developed a love for romantic novels and dreamt of a life filled with excitement, passion, and luxury.
When she marries Charles, she hopes her dreams will come true. However, Charles, though kind and devoted, is a dull and unimaginative man.
Their life in the small village of Tostes quickly bores Emma. The daily routine is monotonous, and she feels suffocated by the provincial lifestyle.
Charles decides to move to a larger village, Yonville, hoping the change will make Emma happier. He believes that a new environment and new people might bring some joy to her life.
In Yonville, Emma and Charles have a daughter named Berthe. Despite having a child, Emma feels unfulfilled and trapped. She takes little interest in Berthe, often leaving her in the care of the maid.
Emma dreams about the glamour and romance she reads about in her novels. She envisions a life of fancy parties, elegant clothes, and intense love affairs.
In Yonville, Emma meets Rodolphe Boulanger, a wealthy and attractive landowner. Rodolphe notices Emma’s unhappiness and decides to seduce her for his amusement. He sees her as a challenge and enjoys the thrill of the pursuit.
They begin a passionate, secret affair. Emma believes she has finally found the love and excitement she craves. Rodolphe’s attentions make her feel alive and desired.
She dreams of running away with Rodolphe, but he is only toying with her emotions. When the time comes to elope, Rodolphe abandons her, leaving her heartbroken. Emma falls seriously ill from the shock and despair, confined to bed for weeks.
After recovering, Emma meets Léon Dupuis, a young and handsome law clerk who shares her love of literature and art. They often discuss books and music, finding comfort in each other’s company.
Initially, they are just friends, but their relationship soon turns into a secret affair. Emma travels to the city of Rouen to meet Léon in secret, feeling alive and joyful in his company.
They visit theatres, museums, and cafés, enjoying their mutual interests. However, over time, Léon grows tired and ends their affair, leaving Emma feeling abandoned once again.
In an attempt to escape her dissatisfaction, Emma begins spending extravagantly. She buys expensive clothes, luxurious furniture, and lavish gifts, hoping to fill the void in her life. She attends extravagant soirées, trying to immerse herself in a world of wealth and sophistication.
She borrows money from a merchant named Lheureux but does not tell Charles about her mounting debts. Her financial situation worsens, and she finds herself unable to pay her creditors. Emma tries to sell her belongings and even contemplates illegal means to get money, but nothing works.
Emma’s debts become uncontrollable, and Lheureux demands repayment. Desperate and without options, Emma turns to Rodolphe and Léon for help, but they both refuse.
Feeling trapped and hopeless, Emma takes arsenic from the pharmacy and dies a slow, agonizing death. Her final moments are filled with regret and pain as she realises the consequences of her actions.
Charles is devastated by Emma’s death. In the days that follow, he discovers letters revealing her affairs with Rodolphe and Léon. Heartbroken and overwhelmed by the truth, Charles’s health deteriorates.
He becomes a shadow of his former self, haunted by memories of Emma and their life together. He dies soon after, leaving their daughter Berthe alone.
Berthe is sent to live with a poor relative. Without her parents, she faces a difficult and lonely life. She is often neglected and must work hard to help her relatives make ends meet.
Emma’s pursuit of a better and more exciting existence has led to tragedy, not just for herself, but for her entire family.