With this engaging summary and detailed analysis from BrightSummaries.com, gain new insights into Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert's, the controversial tale of a woman's desperate attempts to escape the banalities of her provincial life. This reading guide includes : a complete plot summary ; character studies ; key themes and symbols ; questions for further reflection. Shed new light on the very best of literature with BrightSummaries.com !