Bouvard and Pécuchet

Style and Technique

Gustave Flaubert's novel «Bouvard and Pécuchet» is characterized by a satirical style aimed at criticizing bourgeois society and pseudoscientific knowledge. Flaubert employs irony and sarcasm to mock the protagonists' quest for comprehensive knowledge, which turns out to be superficial and useless. The language of the work is rich in detail and precise descriptions, creating a documentary effect. Literary techniques include parody and hyperbole, emphasizing the absurdity of the situations the characters find themselves in. The structure of the novel is fragmented, consisting of episodes in which Bouvard and Pécuchet try their hand at various fields of knowledge, invariably failing. Flaubert also uses embedded genres, such as letters and diaries, to diversify the narrative and deepen the characterization of the characters.