Between the sacred and the profane exists a woman: the case of madame Bovary, by Gustave Flaubert

Entre o sagrado e o profano existe uma mulher: o caso de madame Bovary, de Gustave Flaubert

Resumo

This article delves into the analysis of the sacred and profane phenomena present in Flaubert's Madame Bovary from a literary perspective, aiming to understand the human existence in relation to the divine through the lens of religious anthropology. The objective is to examine the manifestations of the sacred and profane in the construction of meaning within the play. It also explores the comprehension of these manifestations during the realism era, when individuals sought guidance from various forms of sacredness or symbolic elements while simultaneously rejecting what was deemed sacred. Drawing on the theories of philosophers such as Gilles Lipovestsky and Mircea Eliade, this bibliographical research briefly touches upon certain historical events in 19th-century France to enhance social criticism and contextualize life experiences and expectations in an impious world. The results reveal that Emma Bovary's attitudes amalgamate values, experiences, and religious principles, indicating that individuals can only find fulfillment by desecrating themselves and the world around them.