Bouvard and Pécuchet

The book feels like a profound meditation on the limits of knowledge and the folly of blindly pursuing it. I'm curious what Flaubert's own thoughts or experiences might have influenced this satirical tone.

The way their earnest efforts spiral into chaos makes me wonder if Flaubert was commenting on the dangers of overconfidence in human progress. How did others interpret their downfall?

The fragmented style makes the story feel like a series of sketches. I'm interested in whether this was a deliberate choice to emphasize the repetitive folly or if it evolved during Flaubert's writing process.