Madame Bovary · Character
Monsieur Bournisien
The parish priest of Yonville, often at odds with Homais.
minor
Also known as Bournisien
First appearance: part ii ii
Monsieur Bournisien shows up with force in XI. The page is where that presence becomes real.
Visits the ailing Hippolyte, attempting to secure his religious salvation with simplistic platitudes, contrasting with Homais's scientific pretensions.
Monsieur Bournisien first appears in 0012 part ii ii.
In XI: Visits the ailing Hippolyte, attempting to secure his religious salvation with simplistic platitudes, contrasting with Homais's scientific pretensions.
Later, in XIV: Visits Emma regularly, marvels at her religious fervor but worries it borders on heresy; argues with Homais about the dangers of theatre.
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Character Web
4 connectionsA slice of how Monsieur Bournisien sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Other
Character groups
- Secondary & Tertiary Figures
- Central Characters
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Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
- Aftermath
- Closing
This scene represents Emma's ultimate psychological exposure and humiliation, as her private life—from dresses…
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Monsieur Bournisien appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
Chapter companion notes
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See Monsieur Bournisien in part ii ii