With Madame Bovary still fresh in my mind, I decided to dip into more of Flaubert’s ink.
Gustave Flaubert’s Sentimental Education is a masterpiece that invites readers into a world of youthful aspirations, romantic disillusionments, and political upheaval, all set against the backdrop of 19th-century France. However, if we peel back the layers of sophisticated prose and complex characterisations, we uncover an epic tale of what can only be described as the most elegantly composed series of unfortunate events. It’s as if Flaubert decided to chronicle the adventures of a very French, very melodramatic Frank Spencer – Ooh, Betty.
Our protagonist, Frédéric Moreau, the hero we deserve (but probably don’t need), is the quintessential romantic dreamer – a young man brimming with ambition, idealism, and the kind of indecisiveness usually reserved for choosing between television shows. Frédéric is in love with Madame Arnoux, a woman so unobtainable and perfect that one wonders if she’s a figment of his imagination. He spends the novel in a state of perpetual longing, interrupted occasionally by brief dalliances with other women, business ventures, and revolutionary fervour.
Frédéric’s approach to love can be summarised thusly: if at first you don’t succeed, pine, pine again. His attempts at romance are akin to a series of comic mishaps – he’s always on the verge of winning Madame Arnoux’s heart, only to trip over his own shoelaces, metaphorically speaking. Each encounter is more awkward than the last, culminating in a declaration of love so delayed that it arrives several years past its expiration date.
One of the novel’s most remarkable features is its dedication to the art of inaction – of doing nothing. Frédéric’s greatest talent is perhaps his unparalleled ability to do nothing effectively. He’s a master of procrastination, a virtuoso of passivity. Whether it’s his career, his love life, or his political ambitions, Frédéric excels at not following through.
Take his involvement in the 1848 revolution, for example. Frédéric manages to be present at key historical moments without actually contributing in any meaningful way. He’s the Chameleon of revolutionary France, always in the picture but never quite in focus. His political engagements are marked by a profound lack of engagement, a series of half-hearted gestures that amount to little more than elegant dithering.
The novel’s supporting characters add to the rich tapestry of farce. Monsieur Arnoux, the charming yet feckless husband of Frédéric’s beloved, is a study in mismanagement, whether it’s of his business, his marriage, or his extramarital affairs. Rosanette, the vivacious courtesan, provides a delightful counterpoint to Madame Arnoux’s saintly demeanour, embodying the chaotic energy of the Parisian demi-monde.
Then there’s Deslauriers, Frédéric’s best friend and occasional frenemy, whose schemes and ambitions are as grandiose as they are doomed to fail. Their friendship is a tragicomedy in itself, with each man repeatedly sabotaging the other’s plans, whether intentionally or through sheer incompetence.
The title, Sentimental Education, drips with irony. Frédéric’s education in sentiment is less about learning the nuances of the human heart and more about the spectacular ways in which he can misunderstand, misinterpret, and mismanage his feelings. His romantic and existential misadventures offer a satirical look at the folly of youthful idealism and the harsh realities of adult life.
Flaubert’s prose, renowned for its precision and beauty, serves as the perfect foil for the bumbling antics of his characters. The elegance of his writing contrasts sharply with the absurdity of their actions, creating a rich vein of dark humour that runs throughout the novel.
Sentimental Education is a profound meditation on the complexities of human desire and the absurdity of life’s pursuits. It’s also, quite frankly, a hilarious catalogue of missteps, misunderstandings, and missed opportunities. Flaubert’s genius lies in his ability to weave these elements together into a narrative that is as intellectually stimulating as it is deeply entertaining.
So, the next time you find yourself pondering the great existential questions or caught in the throes of unrequited love, remember Frédéric Moreau – if nothing else, his epic journey of doing very little and achieving even less provides a comforting reminder that sometimes, it’s okay to laugh at the sheer ridiculousness of it all.
Wording 