# Monsieur Bournisien — Madame Bovary character guide

> Monsieur Bournisien in Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Bournisien

**First appearance:** 0012-part-ii-ii

## Who they are

The parish priest of Yonville, often at odds with Homais.

## In the story

### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-ii-xi)

Visits the ailing Hippolyte, attempting to secure his religious salvation with simplistic platitudes, contrasting with Homais's scientific pretensions.

### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-ii-xiv)

Visits Emma regularly, marvels at her religious fervor but worries it borders on heresy; argues with Homais about the dangers of theatre.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-iii-i)

Not present, but his domain (the cathedral) and the theme of religious hypocrisy are central to the chapter's setting and events.

### [IX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-iii-ix)

Keeps vigil; argues with Homais about prayer and faith; attempts to console Charles with religious platitudes about submission to God's will.

### [The Funeral](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/chapters/part-iii-x)

Conducts the funeral service in a shrill voice, performing the rites of burial.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters/monsieur_bournisien
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/madame_bovary_se/characters