Flaubert’s Emma Bovary and Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina are two tragic heroines who have affairs with different men and commit suicides towards the end of their stories. In this article, the main aim is to examine the reason behind their suicides and provide a critical analysis of the scenes with the aftermath of their deaths by identifying prominent themes. In Anna Karenina, the main focus will be on Anna and her relationships and in Madame Bovary, the analysis will concern how Emma’s urge to have a romantic relationship leads to her demise. The two female protagonists in the novels attain the title of tragic women whose lives end through suicides. Despite following a similar theme of adultery, Flaubert and Tolstoy choose to end their stories in a distinctive manner. The article will elaborate on the differences between Anna and Emma’s life, affair as well as death.

Keywords: Madame Bovary, Anna Karenina, tragic heroines, suicide, aftermath of death, affairs