Madame Bovary - Thug Notes Summary & Analysis

[@MrMakae90]

This was one of the best Thug Notes so far. Very impressive.

[@Wingedmagician]

I agree

[@RoguSpanish]

So it's not just me then? I thought this one was extra awesome.

[@videostar75]

It helps that Madame Bovary is a great book, providing lots of material

[@energyeternal]

agreed.

[@clementhossaert5234]

Gotta say, I've been studying this book for a 50 pages long essay I wrote three years ago and you summed up the interest of the book and Literary Realism beautifully with that sentence "Maybe it ain't the players you should be hatin' on, maybe it's the game. And the name of the game is reality" I love your channel, I love your content. Your writing does not only hold up humoristically, it holds up in terms of meannig and fully thought literary analysis. Thank you for this.

[@raxelleon8189]

"It ain't easy not being sleazy." That part was just AWESOME!!

[@tywebb2319]

Undoubtedly, this is the most insightful literary analysis I have ever encountered in my decades on this liquid blue sphere. 10 minutes well spent.

[@BirdRaiserE]

I will not rest until I see "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair

[@nathansilva8141]

The themes and premisses of this books are brilliant. If only the writing wasnt so damn boring

[@PharaohOfTheDamned]

spaceroliste it may be the point,but it's still boring. nothing wrong with admitting it

[@nathansilva8141]

spaceroliste Flaubert is like the George Costanza of literature

[@EMSpdx]

Exactly. For all the romance and hotness that the characters want, they are actually utterly boring and mundane.

[@teambqb8325]

This is actually the purpose of realism in literature, they try to be as true as possible, but some realistic writer like zola (not really realistic, but naturalist) included some kind of surrealism element and fantasy element to their realistic novel, to improve their writing. I am thinking of this scene in therese Raquin where one dud gets killed. It's like an horror movie.

[@92ninersboy]

The writing is sheer beauty, some of the best ever. Sorry, but I don't find beauty boring.

[@rhythmssoulsound9846]

Too much focus on sex and romance. Taking into consideration the club-footed boy and the doctor's success/failure could shed some more light on Emma's expectations beyond just sex and romance. Her increasing loans and fascination with the aristocratic party also indicate that what drives her character are selfish desires for wealth and fame. Thus, Flaubert criticizes society in general (particularly a middle class supported on credit) and the unrealistic expectations that individuals have about their existence.

[@marcusrichardson8527]

I totally agree. Materialism, wealth, and fame, were huge themes in the novel.

[@cottonhairedaesthetic2005]

These are THUG notes. We don't care about that other shit lol

[@DarkAngelEU]

That's kinda sad to learn. You see, I'm looking up stuff about this novel and apparently Flaubert described it as an attempt to write a novel "about absolutely nothing", depending on nothing external, like gossip. It is all in the mind. It's used in the movie La Grande Bellezza as an insult against a high society socialist who boasts about her achievements and describing Rome as the only place in the world where collectivism became a reality, to which the main character replies that if Flaubert had met her, he actually would have been inspired to write a series instead of just one novel. The whole movie is an examination of how style changes our perception on reality, which I guess is what Flaubert also did with Madame Bovary. I actually like stories that are about nothing, like fantasy, surreal and gothic novels, my favourite Woolf novel being Orlando and I think that pretty much says everything. God knows I tried reading her other novels, I liked To The Lighthouse, but the others are just so boring in comparison. Too detailed, too real, there's barely any room to breathe and allow some imagination to fill it in. I like The Hours too, because it is based on Woolf, but not actually like Woolf, if that makes sense. It seems like Flaubert thinks of style as merely a tool to teach his own views on moral justice and I don't really like morality stories. I thought this might have been an interesting book to see how it is supposed to be the "first" book about "nothing", but if it turns out it's just a moral tale about the bourgeoisie I'm gonna let this one slide. I simply can't be arsed to read a book that tries to "teach" me how to live a proper life.

[@MetFansince]

I only lasted 30 pages into this novel before giving up. And hearing this sum-up the plot seems meandering.

[@RoopeRontu1999]

@@MetFansince I tolerated the book for the 1st part, took me 5 years to try again. I did read the book in the end, and honestly, it starts getting interesting after the club foot-incident and when Emma starts loaning money from Lheureux.

[@TooRealForTV]

This shit was epic. LMAO The story telling is wonderful. Im subscribed.

[@andersonsmith979]

Pretty much nailed it! As a proper French Girl, I read this in French in school and have since read it in English and he hits the main points. And he's pretty hilarious doing it. :D Madame Bovary thinks that marriage will be her entrée into high society-which she craves-and all that she imagines comes with it and is disappointed to find that not only is Monsieur Bovary a man of small ambitions but not even a social climber! So, no glamorous soirées with the cultured upper classes and certainly no Paris. Unless...she chases after men who she thinks are already high enough on the social ladder. For his part Monsieur Bovary seems to think that if he can only get Emma all to himself, happiness will just automatically follow. Not bothering to really consider that if she is not happy with her rather banal, humble lot in life as a wife in some provincial backwater that he will NOT have a happy marriage. I am not saying that he should give in to her whims but that they were unequally yoked from the start. (It's probably a good idea to ask what your potential spouse wants out of life and see if that works with what YOU want BEFORE the wedding.) Our dreams are often built solely on fantasy. As such, they look so good that we often don't consider the down side or whether there even IS a down side at all to getting what we think we want. Gustave Flaubert is just shining a light on the emptiness of the unexamined life or if you prefer, how empty life can be if you expect life to cater to your ill-considered whims and desires. As Wisecrack says, "Reality don't always jive with yo expectations...Reality just gonna shit all over it." :D

[@snooz3d998]

I really like Emma as a charachter, beacause even though everything she does seems dumb, we all are a bit like her

[@Sarinleigh]

Its 2021. A lot of women are like this now

[@valhatan3907]

Everyone are like that: living with unrealistic expectations, hedonistic lifestyle, toxic consumerism, and blah bla blah. Always like that. Didn't change

[@psyencefiction6974]

I was just introduced to this and...I adore everything about it. Amazing work.

[@TimHuelgas]

This guy is my favortie dude on the freaking planet right now. I swear if i ever saw him in person I would freak out more than a regular "famous" person.

[@_-.-_-_.._--.-_-_----_-.--_._-]

Irony is while many believe video games. television and the internet to hold a negative influence on people, no one realizes print did too at one time. Vsauce did a fantastic presentation on juvenoia where newspapers reported the absence of communication in a family setting--each with their head "buried" in a magazine or [book]. Dracula for example inspired vampiric obsessed cults in the Victorian era.

[@Brandon-os1db]

This is true! :3 ^///^ Flaubert states, on page 194 of Madame Bovary, that the character Bournisien, who is the town priest, "considered music less dangerous for morals than literature."

[@flyingphalcon2622]

True but how is this relevant to the book?

[@vacantgodling]

i'm like amazed at how this video came out literally as i'm having to read this book for my english class. bless.

[@JackOfen]

This novel proves all problems man and woman have come from those damn cheesy romance novels

[@tama3162]

BURN 'EM TO THE GROUND.

[@Smeagolthevile]

You should go read SAGA

[@Talthain]

Are you talking about the Graphic novel by Brian K. Vaughan? :)

[@Smeagolthevile]

Yes, Yes I am

[@johnsnow9210]

It isn't the novels bruh it is the way we are raised in the west. Boys are raised to be realist and productive where as girls are encourage to dream of being princesses and what not. To me romance is surprising her by showing up at her job with roses and her favorite lunch. Novels are outrageous.

[@ChainsGoldMask]

I frickin love you, dude

[@beertuben6299]

ChainsGoldMask Them thugg notes 📝 Doe

[@BeastlyAnteater]

This was a great episode, I'm inspired to read this book. Thanks Sparky!

[@Maradrafts]

As a Frenchwoman (and lit major), I can vouch for every single word Sparky said about it. It's a fantastic book, though more than a bit down-to-earth in its writing and fairly depressing, all things considered. I'd advise keeping happy music at arm's reach. ^^ Enjoy your read!

[@EMSpdx]

I read this book (in translation) in high school and it had the effect of dashing cold water on my Romantic dreams- which is a good thing.

[@HAngeli]

Maradrafts Good advice! I read the english translation, in the scenes of her agony I felt literaly sick. I was in a bus and I had to stop Reading and it was an awful day but the book surely lingers...

[@mariupezap4253]

That's nice to hear, but let me tell you, this book was boring. A lot. And it is also frustrating to see so many stupid characters in the same book. I know it's a classic of literature but I think there are better books out there.

[@morganfaunce1824]

“ romantic as going to the DMV” 😂😂 I died

[@Fulgrim2]

Any chance of doing "The Call of Cthulhu" by HP Lovecraft? Never gonna give up on it!

[@PDog69]

lol

[@Vile_Oreo]

Didn't he already do that? I feel like he did that.

[@superwireman13]

Nihilism55 They did "Mountain of Madness". Idk if he did any other.

[@woestewouter96]

Never gonna let it down?

[@epsilomtrent932]

I agree. Call of Cthulu!!

[@0Paronomasia0]

Guess who be chillin'? MOTHAFUCKIN' LEON.

[@jonny2hotty378]

He fresh as hell bloood

[@majikstranger]

I love this channel. Best thing ever

[@booksmeanyway235]

Loved it. Very good analysis. I'm impressed!

[@ErmanTheMaster]

"Yeaaaaaaaah, this girl needs to get fucked" ROFL

[@Cl0udWolf]

Thug notes videos are the greatest thing that ever came to the wisecrack channel

[@Redem10]

I'm not saying Bovary's a gold digger, but....

[@fifysky8587]

Redem10 No she wasn't. That would have meant she was colder and more sensible than she was. I see her behavior towards money and sex more like a child's one - just consuming.

[@Casper78694]

SAME POISON DIFFERENT VAIN. Some gold digger's are more bold & aggressive & manipulative & other's are more shy & demure which is a cloak covered by there lack of discretion, wayward & selfish behavior, the simple ones just exhibit childlike behavior but both are calculative which are both variants strong point .Anyway Most gold diggers are immature if you look deep.A true universal sign for both is they are indiscriminate as to who they chose as far as a mate & how far down they go, & they don't care how low they break you down. From what I've witnessed it's the quite shy, coy, child like, demure ones that are the most deadly they shame you by being friendly & flirting with every passer by, bumble thru your earnings like a child and have a fit once you stop playing there financial game, then finally resort to very destructive tactics to get closure. But yeah Kanye is a classic example, of his own scenario he gives in his song.

[@LxgOutMane]

Redem10 she aint messin with no broke nigga

[@missx3958]

Redem10 she was treated badly by men and was looking for love. A nice lifestyle is not golddigging. If you watch the mia wasikowska movie the husband was sexually selfish.

[@missx3958]

Hector Nonayurbusiness Exactly. We can stay broke by ourselves!

[@WhiteScottishBiclops]

Out of all the Audible adverts I've seen, knowing the thug notes book is on there narrated by sparky sweets is the only one that's actually made me consider using audible

[@MantraMan2077]

I would love it if you did a Terry Pratchett book. The obvious choice would be 'The Colour of Magic', but my personal favourite is either 'Reaper Man' or 'Guards Guards!'

[@teamstarpug]

The colour of Magic really wouldn't be worth the bother. The series gets so much better only a few novels down the line.

[@hermaeusmora2945]

Great job Sparky Sweets! I may have to go read this book now.

[@RhythmGrizz]

"those panties Niagra FALLin" Oh, it's gonna be a good episode

[@deetsmckumar1563]

This is by far the best thug notes video. You should make the videos longer because the newer videos skip over many plot details and your killer analysis.

[@anitarichmond8930]

Yo Sweets, I been binge-watching all Thanksgiving day .I love the classics. Reading is fundamental... keeping it old school.💯

[@wesbeuning8927]

Thats exactly what ive been doing!

[@villagechillershorror228]

This is the best book review channel on youtube. Period.

[@hayinka7691]

this shit is the lit

[@BigMarcello100]

Judges? *XXX* Sorry three Xes. You can´t use lit like that

[@avizinder616]

its lit as in Literature

[@BigMarcello100]

Judges? *¯\**_(ツ)_**/¯* Fuck you judges!

[@bh.r.9496]

some guy on a scale of one to the monks from "the davinci code" how white are you?

[@Rhekon]

meant to say "This shit is legit."

[@ChrisGlenski]

Hey wisecrack crew, thanks for covering this book. I had completely forgotten how much of an impact reading this book back in college made on my view on romance to this day. Please keep on keeping it real.

[@MaddieFishblob]

He asks who should we blame or hate? Well I blame Emma 😑 I can understand being in an unhappy marriage, but she was so busy chasing guys that she neglected her own kid. Shoving a cute little toddler away and dumping her with the maids her entire childhood. Then killing herself without any consideration of the kid she brought into this world! I don’t care who u are or what you’ve been through, crap parenting just pisses me off

[@WillianyAmill]

Yeah sure... i Suppose it's almost like they should have invented real therapy and real psychology and real medications instead of just sending women and their silly little female emotions and opium dependency to get a lobotomy since by this era society can't hang a woman as a witch for not marrying who their parents arranged. 🙄

[@lowe_expectations3420]

If it wasn't for you all, I would have never made it through my undergraduate in English. Wisecrack is the real MVP!

[@jasonmcgarvey3012]

I always liked these Thug Notes...and this one is one of the best

[@jamesk3612]

this is great, we are reading this book in my AP Literature class and everything he mentioned my teacher spent 40 minutes analyzing. I want to play this video in class.

[@STUV101]

You could also take a look at "I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream"

[@steaksoldier]

That would be one really short episode

[@STUV101]

Steak Soldier Shorter by maybe 30 seconds to a minute; but that story has some serious literary truth to it.

[@dashfox1]

Thug notes is quickly becoming my favorite youtube show!

[@josh420masterB]

Man, do The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov at some point!!

[@Maradrafts]

I'd love to see it covered!

[@YontheSwordofChaos]

GOD YES!

[@benwalker2234]

josh420masterB I've been saying this for like 3 years now, it's gotta happen soon or I'll go mental

[@YontheSwordofChaos]

They have to do it. If they did Bovary they have to do Master and Margarita at some point !!!!

[@anonb4632]

Yes please. The Master gets himself some puss-aaay!

[@92ninersboy]

Ran across this and thought I'd have a laugh about my favorite book - I did, but then I actually got into it and appreciated the substance that went along with all the trash talk. The sacred and the profane, the sublime and the ridiculous. Great job.

[@teamstarpug]

Do some Terry Pratchett.

[@robertwinslade3104]

Good Omens would be awesome, or any Discworld book.

[@teamstarpug]

Aye, as long as it's not the colour of magic. It the first and everything, but it really isn't the best. Reaper man, THUD!, or Night watch would be great to analyse.

[@Hanmerhack]

Hella yeah. I wan't to hear Sunny give us the low down on Guards Guards. STP for lif!

[@tnttiger3079]

WISECRACK I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN HEAR ME FROM DOWN HERE IN THE DEPTHS OF THESE COMMENTS BUT THESE GUYS THEY'VE GOT AN IDEA GOING on a sidenote- would it not be interesting if they did a msniseries, covering a couple of the books/covering each storyline (death, the witches, the wizards, the night watch, etc.)

[@android19willpwn]

Guards Guards! or Good Omens would be great. Mort would also be pretty fun, though it's not as well suited to the style.

[@feeshac1974]

When searching for madame bovary critiques I did not expect this but im here for it

[@AwinoWrites]

It matters to go after your dreams. But so does the way you go about it.

[@thegnome73]

That's a great way to look at it

[@dresden]

I just saw the movie and said to myself "I gotta check thug notes for this!" Love it

[@Sosoreview]

Since this book is considered a classic and a masterpiece in France, I've studied it on my last two years of Highschool, and actually found it to be more fun to analyse than to read. It is quite the piece though, and there is a massive ammount of work from Flaubert behind every page, which really paid off in the end, I think. I wonder what your thoughts are on the character of Homais, who's secretely a pretty big deal in the book, Anyway, it's neat to have you guys' opinion on this novel, looking forward to the next video !

[@mercyfabian4885]

It's interesting that you mentioned Homais because my clearest memory of him is scolding his children to tears about playing with his chemicals and possibly poisoning them all. Regardless, I hated the character of Madame Bovary and upon further recollection I can only surmise that Charles and Emma Bovary were both fools surrounded by people who manipulated their ignorance to their own advantage. My heart went out to their poor daughter.

[@petrolandcoffee]

One thug notes video a day warms my soul

[@j.r.r5863]

I feel bad for her husband. He may have been boring, but he loved her and she comes across as selfish and seeking her own happiness and pleasure regardless of how much she hurt or deceived him. It makes me sad for him, that he loved her in life and in death but she was just not worthy of that love.

[@fierceditiesnaruto]

What I love about this channel is that I learn a lot and enjoy it at the same time! XD

[@jackbell6633]

Please make a video telling us your favourite books

[@cbabick]

I just discovered THUG NOTES. This is unbelievably wonderful! I'm laughing and learning. Wish I had this in college!

[@teknifix]

Hoping for David Copperfield or Bleak House! This is one of the best series' on KZbin.

[@Paintbait]

I would never have been interested in a book like this, but now I want to read it. Solid analysis.

[@jlstout7807]

I would like to hear commentary on either Red Dragon, Hannibal, or Silence of the Lambs! :}

[@moonlight1393]

"Reality don't jive with your expectations." Truer words have never been spoken.

[@weid7070]

Do the Quest for the Golden Fleece! Jason and his Argonaut homies.

[@marcydufrene3593]

Best. Review. Ever! Just finished the novel and loved it. This review is accurate and thoroughly entertaining. And this was not the first review video I viewed. Bravo! Bravo!

[@SoFloShylockPrankstv]

I would appreciate it if you guys covered King Lear

[@Exiled_Rouge]

one of the funniest thug notes so far. I read this book in high school and thought it somewhat exhausting to read. years later, I while thumbing through a used copy I got very absorbed in the text. It's a rewarding book for all its wordiness.

[@kvitka124]

Thug Notes, how I've missed you

[@eddyrodneybalbuena5663]

you know what would be more than great? If one day i receive a notification from this chanel saying: "The Sandman - Thug Notes Summary & Analysis". NEVER GONNA GIVE UP ON IT!.

[@jamesclark6864]

Has The Importance of Being Earnest been done here yet?

[@GerryBolger]

Ulysses by James Joyce. Best of luck...

[@jimreid5]

That would be short.

[@chloefarley7690]

writing an essay on this tomorrow - very helpful video. Made all the info sink in.

[@tooold8549]

Don't want to be spammy, but I think Candide would be pretty awesome

[@maiwandkazimi3920]

I agree

[@khardiatadieng]

Too Old Yeeesss

[@kennyhagan5781]

I love when dude summarizes a percy classic.

[@AceOfPeter]

Please do The Shadow over Innsmouth by H.P. Lovecraft Also, great episode!

[@victoriastark569]

Brilliant summary on one of my favourite novels. Keep up the good work Sparky Sweets!

[@amjPeace]

I'm reading the book and I just got to the part where Emma is desperately and unsuccessfully going around to every man she knows trying to use her wiles to save herself from bankruptcy and humiliation. And knowing there is a little blue bottle in Homais's lab, I had a feeling things wouldn't end well, so I decided to come to your Thug notes to end the suspense. I feel so badly for Charles because he married someone who was unable to appreciate the romance of dedicating oneself to another person for life. I've been married to my hubby for 45 years, and we still know how to keep it fresh because we keep it real, and real is better than any romantic bullshit if you both communicate.

[@antemeridiemwolf]

*Wow! Thanks for the great vid Sparky and Wisecrack!*

[@RitaDaisyYes]

I hated this book because of Emma

[@Lurv3n]

Great job! We tried reading this in school but even our teacher thought it was too boring so we dropped the whole project half way through. But you guys managed to make it fun at least

[@trichogaster1183]

How about "Faust - Der Tragödie erster Teil" by J.W. Goethe?

[@favelado3408]

they did one about dr faustus

[@trichogaster1183]

aldo bonzi close enough

[@GroakGwerler]

fuck dat dr faustus shit

[@scireofficial7862]

They did that.

[@miguelpestana314]

he did the Marlowe ´s text, not Goethe´s.

[@ianc.dawkinsmoore513]

Great stuff, man. Keep up the great work.

[@sasayaki]

Did you cover Anna Karenina yet?

[@nicholasinzunza8887]

keep doing these forever guys! I love these!

[@leo210]

can you do "do androids dream of electric sheep? " its a really good book

[@duncanfery9377]

Woaw ! Our man did some Flaubert ? Sign me up !

[@GabrielKnightz]

Please do either The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky. or Grendel by John Gardner.

[@GabrielKnightz]

Thank you for letting me know :)

[@Fwyd]

Oh, this one is the best yet!!

[@patrickdodds7162]

Please do "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert Heinlein!

[@kpvdnber]

These are my favorite videos on the whole of youtube ^^

[@MightyMarin]

I suggest Candide by Voltaire.

[@marie-maissa4689]

Thank you so, so very much for this Thug Notes edition! It was legitimately one of the best!

[@TGC40401]

Sweets, when are you running for president?

[@richardbrafford5392]

Excellent! Please do the entire western canon reading list.

[@Mymanga600]

Please do Flowers for Algernon!

[@ajm20151]

Also, there's a book called Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya and another called Transit by Anna Seghers. Both are relatively obscure but definitely worth a mention.

[@MedicEne]

Please do Dr jekyll and mr hyde

[@happydance6320]

YAS

[@jaimewhitt5584]

MedicEne Yoooooo that'd be lit

[@TigeRider42]

Emile Zola wrote a lot of works that lend themselves to interpretation; most deal with social issues. "Germinal" is a great one to talk about, lots of symbolism.

[@guywiththeface001]

Please do "The Dunwich Horror" by H.P. Lovecraft!!

[@dbzbourgheim]

Sorry but I already died laughing at how you pronounced Gustave Flaubert, from my French ears' perspective it was hilarious, thank you so much xD

[@tmatsa]

can you please do The portrait of Dorian Gray?

[@marcohabana7684]

tas matsas he already did

[@CuddleFish124]

“But since chillin’ with Charles ‘bout as romantic as goin’ to the DMV,” DUDE THAT IS **SAVAGE** 🤣🤣🤣

[@chessssssssss1]

whats the name of the melody of the analysis part?

[@hawkeyestegosaurus5680]

That book looks amazing, I want to read that now!

[@clever-username]

Gravity's Rainbow or something by Pynchon please!

[@sortablackcomic]

just wanted to say I'm a big fan of the show. just started watching it a few days ago but I'm already hooked. your discussions really give me something to think about as well as being hilarious. but I was hoping in a future episode you could discuss my favorite H.P. Lovecraft story "The Whisperer in Darkness". would love to hear your thoughts on it

[@caseyharrington4947]

Life is suffering