How Does Faubert Use Similes In Madame Bovary

In the first chapter of the novel Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert, there are many prominent and interesting features. For example, Flaubert frequently uses figurative speech such as similes and imagery. Flaubert’s use of figurative languages such as simile and imagery stands out and allows the reader to have a thorough understanding of the scene Faubert is describing, thus making it important to the interpretation of the work by the reader. Throughout the first chapter of Madame Bovary, there are many instances in which Flaubert uses similes to allow the reader to understand what he is describing. For example, he states “one of those wretched things whose mute ugliness has great depths of perception, like an idiot’s face” (Faubert 2)
when describing the hat that Charles Bovary owned. Because of the use of simile is this description, the reader is able to envision the characteristics, and the clear ugliness of the hat. The frequent usage of simile is interesting and stands out to the reader, making it a key factor in the interpretations of the text. In addition to the usage of simile, Flaubert also uses imagery to allow the reader to understand the people, things, and events taking place. Flaubert uses this imagery when describing Charles Bovary’s summer evening when attending medical school. He states “the brook, which makes this part of Rouen a kind of sordid Venice, flowed past him, yellow, violet or blue between its bridges and railings” (Flaubert 8). Flaubert’s descriptive use of colors and comparison to widely known cities appeals to the reader's eyes. The imagery allows the reader to feel the things that Charles Bovary feels when viewing the river. This allows for a deeper understanding of both the setting and character spoken of. This affects how the reader interprets the book as a whole, and thus is an interesting factor of Flaubert’s writing. Flaubert's frequent use of figurative language, especially in ones such as imagery and similes, will likely have drastic effects of on the reader's interpretations throughout the entirety of the book. Because of this, figurative language in Madame Bovary is an important feature, making it stand out among the other noticeable features introduced in the first chapter.