In this thesis, I will be looking at the different adaptations of the myth of Electra, throughout time, by studying the following plays: Les Choéphores by Aeschylus, Electre by Euripides, Electre by Giraudoux and Les Mouches by Sartre. The purpose of this thesis is to examine why the character of Electra has sparked so many different versions and adaptations. The thesis discusses the evolution of her character over time and also, the main ideas authors have introduced through their renditions. I have shown that with Aeschylus, his primary goal was to write in honour of the god Dionysis, and his entire play centers around praising the gods and following their destiny for humans blindly, without questioning it and without fearing another god’s wrath. Euripides’s play was written to mock that of his predecessor and to portray Electra as the symbol of blind vengeance. I then look at the Electra of Giraudoux where the author suggests that Electra is the symbol of absolute justice and that political rulers should sacrifice their own well-being for that of the nation of which they are in charge. Finally, I study Les Mouches by Sartre, who used his play as a work of resistance against the Occupation in France in the 1940s. His play conveys his existentialist thought strongly and is meant to show the French that despite their defeat, that their liberty would stay intact. Throughout this study, it is evident that Electra is a timeless character which each author has used and molded to convey his own thoughts and ideas, whether they be religious, political or philosophical. Electra stands as a symbol for many things, but the regard in which she is held is up to the author to portray, according to his intent. / Thesis / Master of Arts (MA)

Nombreux sont les études consacrées ces dernières années au sujet de la réfutation. La plupart des ces études visent à remettre en lumière la réfutation dans sa structure logico-sémantique. Cette thèse tente par ailleurs à souligner que la réfutation est un art à part entier, au même titre que l’art d’argumenter, étant fondé sur la résistance aux paroles des autres interlocuteurs dans le dialogue théâtral où s’enchaînent les dimensions logique, dialogique, sémantique, rhétorique et pragmatique. L’analyse du texte théâtral nous a permis d’établir que la réfutation, malgré l’évolution sémantique du terme, est associée à la violation de la doxa sociale et son usage à travers les topoï, les figures et preuves du discours dérivé. Elle est également associée à la négation et appuyée par des connecteurs marquant l’opposition entre les points de vue du partenaire du dialogue. Cette étude aimerait donc à contribuer au débat actuel en proposant une piste de recherche dont nous avons la présomption de croire qu’elle est des plus fécondes. / Of the numerous studies devoted in recent years to the study of refutation, most have aimed to shed light on refutation in its logical-semantic structure. This thesis aims to show that refutation is a full-fledged art based, like the art of argumentation, on resistance to the words of other interlocutors in theatrical dialogue, in which the logical, dialogical, semantic, rhetorical and pragmatic dimensions combine. The analysis of theatre texts has allowed us to establish that refutation, in spite of the semantic evolution of the term, is associated with the violation of social doxa and its use via topoï, figures and proofs of derived discourse. It is also associated with negation and is supported by connectors that mark opposition among the points of view of the partners in dialogue. This study seeks to contribute to the current debate by proposing a research path that appears to have borne fruit.

No description available.

No description available.