Through the use of the free indirect discourse, the author reveals the novel"s world through the subjective point of view of its characters. In Madame Bovary, the narrator describes only things seen or experienced by the character whose point of view is being expressed at the time and the nature of this description is subjective to the manner in which the character experiences his or her world. As the point of view switches between the characters, the reader is presented with a series of subjective perceptions, a synthesis of which depicts a theoretically objective reality.

             One of the main problems inherent in this subjective technique of description is that of the reader"s misinterpretation of the intended meaning of the novel. If Flaubert had shown the world of Madame Bovary entirely through the eyes of Emma, the reader would be bound to eventually accept her interpretation as a correct one and begin relating to her. Furthermore, the reader would likely assume that Emma"s point of view is reflective of that of Flaubert. Not only would this be detrimental to Flaubert"s intended effect of objectivity, but more importantly, the continuous implicit criticism of Emma would go unnoticed. To prevent this from happening, the author had to describe the events of his book through the eyes of more than one character. It is understandable, therefore, that Emma is first shown through the eyes of Charles Bovary. The reader gets slowly acquainted with her, as does Charles, and can judge her more accurately when the point of view becomes hers. The first physical description of Emma is crucial to the reader"s opinion of her nature: "Charles was surprised by the whiteness of her fingernails. They were almond shaped, tapering, as polished and shining as Dieppe ivories. Her hands, however, were not pretty – not pale enough, perhaps, a little rough at the knuckles; and they were too long, without softness of line" (Flaubert 898).