Charles Bovary, a mediocre and dull man, has his life planned out for him by his mother. She marries him to a widow, who dies shortly after marriage. He then falls in love with Emma, who has fantasies about what married life should be. Charles falls short of those fantasies. Emma soon begins to wander, living beyond her means, and quite carelessly. After the birth of their child, she settles down for a bit, but only stays tame for so long...