As Martin Turnell has explained in his quotation, throughout Madame Bovary, Flaubert was very careful to apply specific meanings to every single scene, section, situation, character and even tangible props such as the types of hats that were worn throughout the novel or even Emma's bouquet. A "forest of symbols" is definitely present and every aspect of it aids the reader to understand the depth of meaning in the text. Absolutely NOTHING is accidental! One symbol, which I found to be very interesting, was Flaubert's use of the character of Homais, whom he introduces and uses as a symbol for the bourgeoisie. .
Homais is the chemist of Yonville. Most simply Homais is a creep. He feeds off of others throughout the novel in order to better himself in his own mind. Overall, Homais is a "despicable character" as well as extremely selfish. These attributes, created by Flaubert with reason, prevail from the moment Homais is introduced in part II through the entire novel, even as far as the very last line. As Charles and Emma are getting settled in at Yonville, Homais befriends Charles and we are falsely lead into believing that this attempt is genuine and that he truly would like to welcome the officier de sonte" into town. We are rudely awakened by the reality that the only reason that the apothecary was being nice to Charles was so that he would essentially "turn his cheek" to his "disreputable medical practices". .
At this point it is already clear to see that Homais is a superficial individual who can really get under your skin and to make things worse, he really loves to hear his own voice. He makes lengthy speeches throughout the novel, like the one on page 54 (partII), when he goes on a tangent about religion and god, "I have a religion, my religion", he goes on to explain that "he is for the immortal principles of "89". Homais is a hypothetical liar, when he speaks he almost sounds as though he knows what he is talking about and it is to the point that he actually believes himself.
