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In Madame Bovary, what do windows signify?

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In Madame Bovary, windows symbolize escapism, reflecting Emma's constant yearning for a more fulfilling life and her dissatisfaction with reality. They serve as a metaphorical screen for her fantasies about influential men like the Vicomte, Leon, and Rodolphe. Key events, such as Rodolphe's departure and Emma's death, are experienced through windows, highlighting their role as a bridge between her dreams and harsh realities. This motif underscores her mental and physical desire to escape.

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The primary significance of windows in Madame Bovary is to symbolize escapism. This is shown in many ways. 

In chapter 7, her life is described as follows:

. . . for her, life was as cold as an attic with a window looking to the north . . .

This indicates that most of the time, Madame Bovary aspires to do or see something else newer, or better. The saying "the grass always looks greener on the other side" is applicable to Emma. She is never satisfied and, as such, she always looks at some other dream into which she can invest her attention.

In chapter 17 (part II, chapter 8), we find Emma fantasizing about the three most influential men in her life, aside from her father: the Vicomte, Leon, and Rodolphe. Here, the window is tantamount to a screen where she can project her fantasies. 

She fancied she saw him opposite at his windows; then all grew confused; clouds gathered; it seemed to her that she was again turning in the waltz . . . on the arm of the Viscount, and that Leon was not far away . . . and yet all the time she was conscious of the scent of Rodolphe's head by her side.

Lastly, let us not forget that it is through the window that a lot of memorable events are seen in Emma's life: she heard Rodolphe's carriage leaving her for good through her window. She also heard the blind man that terrified her right outside her window, as she was dying. She saw people looking through the window at the chateau when she danced with the Vicomte, making her feel unique. She also wanted to jump out the window in the attic when she found out that Rodolphe had left her. 

The motif of the window signifies a way to escape, both mentally and physically. Emma witnessed both glamour and tragedy through the many windows she saw through. 

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