Key Facts
full title · Sentimental Education
author · Gustave Flaubert
type of work · Novel
genre · Realist fiction
language · French
time and place written · Croisset, France; 1864–1869
date of first publication · November 1869
publisher · Michel Lévy Frères
narrator · An omniscient third-person narrator tells the story.
point of view · Third-person omniscient
tone · Flaubert intended Sentimental Education to
provide a satirical view of the bourgeoisie, and this satirical
tone permeates the novel. Although the narrator remains distant
and simply recounts actions as they happen, Flaubert's clear recounting
of the often vapid society he writes about provides ample opportunity
for mockery.
tense · Simple past
setting (time) · The mid-1800s
setting (place) · Primarily Paris, with forays into Nogent-sur-Seine
and Fontainebleau
protagonist · Frédéric Moreau
major conflict · Frédéric pines for the married, unattainable Madame
Arnoux, sacrificing any possibility of a meaningful relationship
or fulfilled ambition so he can pursue her at every opportunity.
rising action · Frédéric develops various schemes to win Madame Arnoux. Each
time he is unsuccessful, he shifts his interest to pursuing other
women, embarking on unwise alliances and making repeated attempts
to raise his social status.
climax · Since the impossibility of Frédéric's search for love
is one of the main themes of the novel, there is no one clear climax.
There are several anticlimaxes, including Frédéric's desperate attempt
to stop the Arnouxes from leaving Paris, Frédéric's too-late arrival in
Nogent to win over Louise, and the disastrous final attempt by Madame
Arnoux to give herself to Frédéric.
falling action · After Frédéric fails to stop the Arnouxes from leaving
Paris, the novel jumps ahead many years, during which time Frédéric moves
on from his life, which had so far been spent in pursuit of Madame
Arnoux. During this jump, he travels and has love affairs, although
he is unfulfilled.
themes · The endless search for love; the elusive purpose of
art; the capriciousness and vacuity of society; the perceived influence
of fate and luck
motifs · Departures and separations; ribbons; mist
symbols · Parallel lines; roses; Madame Arnoux's white hair
foreshadowing · The appearance of new women often foreshadows Frédéric's attempts
to become romantically involved with them. He spots Madame Arnoux
on the boat at the beginning of the novel and vows to pursue her.
He crosses paths with Rosanette several times and eventually decides
to pursue her. He schemes to win over Madame Dambreuse after realizing
she is his ticket into the society he aspires to.
· The images that recur throughout the novel serve as foreshadowing
as well. For example, the image of parallel lines suggests that
Frédéric will never fully connect with Madame Arnoux. The pervasive
mist suggests the lack of clarity with which Frédéric will ever
pursue any one goal. And the roses, swiftly discarded from the carriage
by Madame Arnoux, point to Frédéric's unending lack of true romantic
fulfillment.
