Monsieur Lheureux Character Analysis in Madame Bovary

Yonville’s versatile merchant, who slowly and deliberately drives the Bovarys to financial ruin. Lheureux affects a pleasant air, but he is a ruthless businessman. He makes money by encouraging people like Emma to spend more than they can afford and then lending them money at very steep rates. Homais may be indifferent to other people’s suffering, but Lheureux seems to enjoy it. Though he is in large part responsible for Emma’s death, he attends her funeral without a trace of guilt.

Monsieur Lheureux Character Timeline in Madame Bovary

The timeline below shows where the character Monsieur Lheureux appears in Madame Bovary. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

The next day, Emma has a visit from Lheureux, the draper (or wholesaler), who offers to bring her any goods she might need. He... (full context)

...an expensive riding-whip, along with other fine presents. She gets most of these things from Lheureux, who never asks her for money, and never tells her how much anything costs. She... (full context)

Truth, Rhetoric, and Hypocrisy Theme Icon

One day, Lheureux shows up unexpectedly with a large bill that Emma cannot pay. Lheureux gets annoyed and... (full context)

Abstraction, Fantasy, and Experience Theme Icon

...Emma dreams of her escape into a vague romantic land full of pleasure. She asks Lheureux to find her a travelling cloak and several bags. (full context)

...health, but he is also concerned about money. His housekeeper is stealing from him, and Lheureux is drowning him in real and invented bills. Lheureux loans Charles a great deal of... (full context)

...is annoyed by this distraction – she wants only to think of her new affair. Lheureux comes to speak to her about her debts, and to tempt her to buy more... (full context)

Emma continues to buy all sorts of clothes and furnishings from Lheureux. She also suddenly takes up the piano. One evening she practices in front of Charles,... (full context)

One day, Lheureux sees Emma and Léon coming out of a hotel. Three days later, Lheureux comes to... (full context)

...money to pay off three earlier bills, but one final bill comes to their house. Lheureux convinces Charles to sign two other bills for it, with steep interest. Charles asks his... (full context)

...debt to Monsieur Vinçart, to whom the draper sold her debt. Emma goes to see Lheureux, who claims that Vinçart is quite vicious and will not hesitate to have Emma thrown... (full context)

...palely for a moment before hiding in the pharmacy. It is a beautiful, fragrant morning. Lheureux is present, lamenting to everyone who will listen. Emma’s father leaves after the funeral, deep... (full context)

...come after Charles for money, but he refuses to sell anything that belonged to Emma. Lheureux pesters him with bills, the piano-teacher who never gave any lessons demands six months pay,... (full context)