A Sentimental Education: Analysis of Major Characters
"A Sentimental Education" explores the complex interplay of love, ambition, and societal expectations through its richly developed characters, primarily focusing on Frederic Moreau, a young law student. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, Frederic's infatuation with the married Mme Arnoux drives much of the narrative. His obsession leads to failures in his academic pursuits and ultimately shapes his disillusionment with romantic ideals. M. Jacques Arnoux, Mme Arnoux's husband, is portrayed as a failed businessman whose infidelities complicate the dynamics between him and Frederic.
The story also introduces Rosanette, a mistress who becomes intertwined with Frederic’s quest for love and revenge, illustrating the theme of fleeting relationships. Other notable characters include Deslauriers, Frederic's friend who seeks stability away from romantic entanglements, and Mme Dambreuse, who complicates Frederic's life further with her affections. Through these intertwined relationships, the narrative delves into themes of desire, betrayal, and the passage from youth to disillusionment, ultimately questioning the nature of love and success within the constraints of society.
A Sentimental Education: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Gustave Flaubert
First published: L'Éducation sentimentale, 1869 (English translation, 1898)
Genre: Novel
Locale: France
Plot: Naturalism
Time: Nineteenth century
Frederic Moreau (fray-day-REEK moh-ROH), a young student who, in 1840, has graduated from the College of Sens and is returning by boat to Nogent, along the Seine. In the fall, he will begin his law courses, but now he is more interested in studying human nature. After a talk with M. Arnoux, he goes to the upper deck, where he is attracted by the sight of lovely Mme Arnoux. Not until he retrieves her ball of yarn does he learn that she is married and has a small daughter. Later, in Paris, he is so infatuated with her that he fails in his final law examinations. He decides to give up thoughts of her and go into politics under the sponsorship of M. Dambreuse. He plans with Deslauriers to found a paper with wealth inherited from his uncle; instead, he gives the money to M. Arnoux. When Mme Arnoux fails to appear for a rendezvous, he seeks out Rosanette, her husband's mistress, to get revenge. He and Rosanette live together in the country for a time. Frederic is never able to find a really permanent love.
M. Jacques Arnoux (zhahk ahr-NEW), a sophisticated businessman who meets Frederic on a boat trip and invites him to call when in Paris. Primarily because Frederic is greatly attracted to Mme Arnoux, the older man becomes well acquainted with him. In an effort to save the failing Arnoux business enterprises, he eventually borrows a large sum of money from Frederic, which is never repaid. He goes bankrupt and begins to neglect his wife for his mistresses, but because of her innate honesty, she remains faithful.
Mme Marthe Arnoux (mahrt), his wife, an honest woman who likes Frederic but remains faithful to her fickle and unsuccessful husband. Her plan to spend an afternoon with Frederic has to be changed because of the illness of her child, a situation that she takes as a judgment on her; she then breaks with Frederic. Years later, she convinces him that they were right not to love carnally.
Rosanette (roh-zah-NEHT), called La Maréchale (lah mahr-eh-SHAHL), an attractive woman whom Frederic meets at a masquerade ball. He guesses correctly that she is the mistress of M. Arnoux. She goes to the country with him to stay during the riots accompanying the overthrow of the monarchy in 1848. Later, she has a child who, she claims, is Frederic's. The boy dies. She brings trouble on M. Arnoux and his wife out of revenge.
Mme Moreau, the mother of Frederic, who had hoped to see her son become a diplomat. She loses most of her money because of the troubled politics of monarchical France and cannot finance him.
Deslauriers (day-lohr-YAY), Frederic's friend, with whom he plans to found a newspaper. They room together in Paris. When Frederic lends his money to Arnoux, Deslauriers breaks with his friend and goes back home to practice law. Many years later, he visits Frederic and they decide that love, like life, is capricious.
Louise Roque (lweez rohk), a neighbor of Frederic who becomes his special friend during his summer vacation. She later follows him to Paris, but she realizes that he no longer cares for her. She marries Deslauriers later, back in Nogent, only to desert him for a singer, Anténor Delamarre.
Anténor Delamarre (ahn-tay-NOHR deh-lah-MAHR), sometimes Delmas, a singer-actor.
M. Roque, who gives Frederic a letter of introduction to M. Dambreuse, a wealthy banker in Paris.
M. Dambreuse (dahm-BREWZ), who offers to get Frederic started in public life. Suspicious of his wife, he leaves his wealth to his niece.
Mme Dambreuse, his wife, who is attracted to Frederic and becomes his mistress. Her hopes of marriage to him following her husband's death are spoiled when she does not inherit his wealth.
Frederic's uncle, a rich man of La Havre. He announces that he will not leave his wealth to his nephew, thus forcing the boy to spend three years in idleness in Nogent. Then he dies intestate, without other heirs, and Frederic gets the money to go to Paris.
Vicomte Cisy (sih-ZEE), a coward who quarrels with Frederic over a woman's reputation and challenges him to a duel. He falls in a faint and skins himself on a twig; this blood satisfies the requirements.
Pellerin (peh-leh-RAN), an artist who paints Rosanette's portrait.