Definitions

1. noun

A term used to describe a kind of pseudo-intellectualism or pretentiousness, especially in literature or philosophy, characterized by an excessive and sentimental interest in the struggles of the common man.

“The critic accused the author of bovarism, saying that his novel was overly sentimental and lacking in depth.”

2. noun

A term derived from the French novel ‘Les Misérables’ by Gustave Flaubert, referring to the idea of an idealized and romanticized image of the poor, often used to critique middle-class sentimentality.

“The literary critic argued that the author’s portrayal of the working class was an example of bovarism, reinforcing negative stereotypes rather than providing a nuanced portrayal.”