Madame Bovary: Part 2, Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

Soon, Emma herself begins to worry about her reputation – not because she cares about the townspeople’s opinions, but because she is afraid of forfeiting Rodolphe’s love. An accidental morning encounter with Binet nearly exposes her secret. Emma and Rodolphe think of a new strategy for their meetings. Rodolphe comes to the house late at night, Emma waits until Charles falls asleep, and then she and Rodolphe go the arbor or the consulting-room. Rodolphe begins to get tired of Emma’s fancies and demands, her sentimental mannerisms. But he still finds her very charming and beautiful, so he puts up with it.

Since Emma is already so obviously devoted to him, Rodolphe stops taking care to woo and flatter her, and she begins to fear that he no longer loves her. The months go by, and their love becomes at once hostile and boring.

One day, Emma receives a sweet and lonely letter from her father, along with his yearly gift – a turkey. She thinks about her carefree childhood, with its “abundance of illusions,” of which little remains. She wonders why she is so unhappy. Her house is lovely and comfortable, her child is playing happily. She calls the girl over, kisses her, washes her ears, and talks to her with tearful love – all very unusual for her. She quarrels slightly with Rodolphe, and begins to wish that she loved Charles instead, though there’s very little about him she can love.