Buggy

Description

A horse and buggy is a simple, light two-person carriage of the 19th and 20th centuries, usually drawn by one or sometimes two horses. It was made with two wheels in England and the United States, and with four wheels in the United states as well. It had a folding or falling top. Buggies could easily be hitched and driven by untrained women and children. 

Quick Facts

• Capacity: 2 Persons
• Average Speed: 3 miles/hr 
• Power: 1-2 Horses
• Cost: $25-$30 during book setting; about $900 today

   

   

Literary Analysis of its Significance

The buggy is the main source of transportation used by Charles other than his horse in the novel Madame Bovary. During the first part of the book before Charles marries Emma, he is traveling by horse only. In a couple of passages during his time with Emma, it shows that Charles recognizes Emma's faeuation with the glamorous life of the books she reads. Emma reads a lot of books fulfilled with fantasys of people living these great lives with expensive budgets. Charles buys the buggy as a result of hearing here ask questions from the books. The buggy is cost inexpensive and very affordable for someone like Charles. It is an upgrade from just riding a horse but not by very much. It could be called a cheap vehicle. Charles thinks Emma is satisfied, but she really isn't happy with just a buggy. She still  looks at it as a cheap way to travel.

Appearances in Madame Bovary

Part 1 Ch.5

 And her husband, knowing that she liked to go for drives, bought a second-hand two wheeled buggy. With new lamps and quilted leather mudguards it looked almost like a tilbury.

(p.38) (transportation sometimes used by Charles instead of riding by horseback)

Part 1 Ch.7

One Wednesday at three in the afternoon, therefore, Monsieur and Madame Boovary set out in their buggy for La Vaubyessard, a large trunk tied on behind and a hatbox in front. Charles had another box between his legs.

They arrived at nightfall, just as lanterns were being lit in the grounds to illuminate the driveway.

(Charles drove buggy from Tostes to La Vaubyessard.)

(p.54)

Part 1 Ch.8

Charles's buggy drew up before the middle door; servants appeared, then the marquis, who gave the doctor's wife his arm and led her into the entrance hall.

(Charles arrived at La Vaubyessard.)

(p.55-56)

Part 1 Ch.8

The slack reins slapped against his  rump and grew wet with lather; and the case tied on behind thumped heavily and regularly against the body of the buggy.

(p.64)

Part 3 Ch. 5

"One morning just after she had gone, rather lightly cald as usual, there was a sudden snowfall; and Charles, looking out the window at the wather, saw Monsieur Bournisien setting out for Rouen in Monsieur Tuvache's buggy. So he ran down with a heavy shawl and asked the priest to give it to Madame as soon as he got to the Croix-Rouge." (Pg 319-320) 

Part 3 Ch. 5

"Finally, at eleven o'clock, unable to stand it any longer, Charles harnessed hisbuggy, jumped in, whipped the hourse on, and reached the Croix-Rough at two in the morning." (Pg 325-326)

References

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horse_and_buggy

http://www.buggybobs.com/

http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9017960/buggy