Dr. Liz and myself had our hands full analyzing the characters in "Madame Bovary." This may not sound very professional, but it is safe to say that all of the patients are first-degree Basket Cases. With our help, Charles, Rodolphe, and Leon are all on the road to recovery. Madame Bovary herself was, unfortunately, a lost cause. Below are our findings. Emma Bovary: Emma, being in love with love, is a true romantic. She grew up reading in a convent reading fairy tales about fair maidens and knights on white horses. As a child, she wanted to a nun because it seemed like romantic. As she grew older, the Faith lost its appeal for her. She looked towards men to fulfill her fantasies. Because Charles could not meet her high demands, their marriage failed. Emma's high expectations and vanity led to her downfall. Another reason Emma and Charles' marriage failed is because of Emma's strong personality versus Charles' placid personality. Emma is an independant woman. She does not like to be controlled, and so she does not adapt well to the confines of a marriage. This desire for freedom creates problems for Emma, but also like her other problems, she wants somebody else to solve them for her. Overall, Emma is a rebellious individual who cannot accept the fact that she can't live in a castle among the clouds. Charles Bovary: Charles is a logical, sensible fellow. He is sweet and kind, but he is not very creative. Charles finds comfort in stability. He does not have the same romantic notions that Emma lives with. At times his innocence appears in the form of his gullible nature. He is never capable of seeing Emma's flaws, and so he continues to worship her even after her suicide. While Charles' predictability and banal lifestyle are not real flaws, Emma views them negatively. In conclusion, Charles'personality does not match Emma's. His inability to please her leads to his unhappiness. Rodolphe: Rodolphe is irresponsible, and he has no conscience. Emma is attracted to him because he is passionate. He is very egotistical, and so he views his relationship with Emma as a conquest. In modern terms, Rodolphe is a "Player." Leon: Leon's personality is the closest match to Emma's. He is also a dreamy, romantic. He loves poetry and emotions. Emma is drawn to him because of their common fantasties. It is questionable that their relationship is founded more on the concept of love and romance than actually loving each other. Leon's personality is just as strong as Emma's. Because of this, Emma and Leon are incompatible. These four patients form a complex system of interwoven relationships and emotions.