Family and the role of woman in the novels of G. Flaubert Madame Bovary and J. Fazel’s Love and Tears

This article examines the issue of family and the position of women through a comparative analysis of Gustave Flaubert’s novel Madame Bovary (1856) and Javad Fazel Larijani’s Love and Tears (1952). The analysis reveals that for both authors the family serves as a central concept shaping the life trajectories of their female protagonists. Flaubert, in his critique of bourgeois values, explores the tragedy of Emma Bovary, torn between romantic illusions and harsh reality. His heroine is a striking example of a woman who, disillusioned with traditional marriage and family duties, becomes a victim of her own dreams and the social norms of her time. In his turn, Fazel, focusing on the conditions and peculiarities of Iranian aristocratic families in the mid-20th century, presents the character of Mahin – a member of this social class who – having made the wrong choice and betrayed her husband, ultimately becomes a victim of her own actions. Fazel treats adultery as a symbol of the moral crisis within the Iranian aristocracy, emphasizing the destructive impact of social conventions and double standards. The article highlights the similarity of motifs, the differences in social circumstances, and their impact on the perception of adultery and women’s freedom. The study emphasizes that in both works family relationships are contrasted with the heroines’ romantic attachments, the latter leading to their spiritual crisis and ultimately resulting in a tragic outcome. The study demonstrates that both stories, despite differences in cultural context, raise universal questions about the role of women and family, remaining relevant within the framework of 19th–20th century world literature.