abstract: Michel Tremblay, one of the most renowned and beloved Quebecois writers, began his literary career in the 1960s. He is well known for writing many of his works exclusively in the Quebec dialect of joual. The history of Quebec, from its beginnings as a permanent settlement of New France, to its subsequent takeover by the British after the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, all were events that set the stage for the Quiet Revolution. The Quiet Revolution was a cultural, social and linguistic uprising set in motion by the French-speakers of Quebec who were tired of being dominated. Up until the 1960s, the majority of literary works produced in Quebec followed the classical French tradition. The desire in the 1960s to break free from the domination of the English language and culture as well as to be differentiated from the French from France brought with it a newfound nationalistic pride. From this point forward there was a push to create a distinct Quebecois literature. One way to differentiate the works of Quebec from those from France was to include characters and settings from within the Quebec society as well as to have those characters speak in their native dialect. Joual, a dialect version of the pronunciation of the French word cheval, meaning horse, was originally a rural dialect that eventually found its way to the inner city. For this reason, joual was most closely identified with the urban working-class of Montreal. This dialect was also perceived as the language of an uneducated, socially and economically inferior segment of the French-speaking Quebec society. By using joual in his literature, Tremblay was able to depict the social, cultural and economic effect that joual had on this element of Quebec's population. This thesis focuses on the impact of joual on this society through the study of two of Tremblay's plays: Les Belles-soeurs (1965), to show a women's perspective about a socially and economically inferior group, and Hosanna (1973), to show the perspective of homosexuals and transvestites, a socially prejudiced group. / Dissertation/Thesis / M.A. French 2012

The Quebec of the Quiet Revolution invites a fascinating sociocultural study, and this analysis provides an overview of major changes there during the 1960s and 1970s. The author analyzes how artistic, literary, and musical contributions of the era reflected the public's sentiments toward this metamorphosis. References to political cartoons, plays, poetry, songs, and non-fiction works such as essays and manifestos illustrate attitudes toward the shifting role of the Catholic Church, the arrival of a Liberal government following an ultra-conservative administration, the feminist movement, economic and education reform, and the transformation of Quebec's identity through fierce debates over the status of French and English in the province. Policies enacted by Quebec Prime Ministers, especially Maurice Duplessis, Jean Lesage, and René Lévesque were pivotal to the emerging society. Events such as Vatican II, the publication of the Encyclical letter Humanae Vitae, and the efforts of Catholic Action revealed two concurrent strains of Catholicism present in Quebec and the extent to which the Church had become disconnected from society. This study examines major feminist aims within the historical and literary context and considers how collective efforts were critical to advancing their agenda. Ambitious economic measures enabled Quebec's francophone population to catch up to their anglophone counterparts and promoted the long-term prosperity of the entire province. The study features perspectives informed by recent interviews conducted with Quebecois people who witnessed, participated in, and reflected on these dramatic events.

La littérature québécoise de l’époque contemporaine semble être hantée par les données de l’histoire, chargée du reflet de la réalité, mais aspirant à la délivrance tant du peuple que de l’écrivain ou du texte lui-même. Le couple écriture et pouvoir acquiert dans ce sens le statut du thème prédominant, traduisant le conflit entre l’opinion progressiste et les différentes instances contraires à toute liberté, à l’indépendance, au progrès…Des conditions étouffantes et des autorités opiniâtres jalonnent le combat salvateur de l’écrivain qui choisit l’espace linguistique et textuel pour défaire la stagnation et le passéisme. Le contexte de la Révolution Tranquille inspire en effet aux romanciers québécois un souffle engagé, suscite la question du nationalisme ou d’identité et installe la révolution dans la littérature comme thème et comme style d’écriture. Des personnages cyniques et révoltés, un langage qui bafoue les figures d’autorité, des scènes qui parodient la réalité ; la fiction annonce la déchéance institutionnelle, le rejet du conformisme, de la domination et des principes désuets. De même, la forme du texte, le schéma narratif, le langage employé s’insurgent contre les canons et la tradition. Un vocabulaire nouveau, une structure remodelée, tons et procédés agencés pour la littérarité et une autre langue qui perce et qui se défend…. L’écriture qui insiste sur l’idée d’inventivité et d’originalité, qui démontre l’emprise de l’écrivain sur la réalité est en somme conçue comme l’instrument de réaliser l’apothéose de l’intellectuel et le salut du peuple, comme la preuve ainsi que la voie d’accéder à la modernité. / Quebec literature of modern time seems to be haunted by the data of history, responsible for the reflection of reality, but longing for deliverance of the people as that of the writer or the text itself. The couple writing and power acquires in this sense the status of the predominant theme, reflecting the conflict between progressive opinion and the various bodies contrary to any freedom, independence, progress ... scorching conditions and stubborn authorities punctuate the fight savior of the writer who chooses linguistic and textual space to defeat the stagnation and traditionalism. The context of the Quiet Revolution inspired Quebecker novelists indeed a committed breath, raises the question of nationalism and identity, and installs the revolution in literature as theme and writing style. Cynical and rebellious characters, a language that violates the authority figures, scenes that parody the reality and fiction announces the institutional deprivation, rejection of conformity, domination and obsolete principles. Similarly, the forms of text, the narrative outline, the used language are railing against the canons and tradition. New vocabulary, a remodeled structure, tones and processes designed to literariness and another language that pierces and defends itself… Writing that emphasizes the idea of inventiveness and originality, which demonstrates the influence of the writer in reality is in fact designed as an instrument to achieve the apotheosis of the intellectual and the salvation of people, as the evidence and the way of access to modernity.

This diploma thesis is covering Québec's policy and Quebec's change of identity from the era of the Quiet revolution. This work covers the changes that were a crucial in the creation of Québec's policy and national identity. From the time of the Quiet revolution in the 60's of the 20th century the society in Québec came through a drastic identity change. And not only in the province itself but also in the whole country of Canada. Because of this change, Québec refused the Canadian policy of multiculturalism. Canadian official policy does not accept Québec as a distinct society and also refuses the principle of the two-nation Canada. Therefore, Québec created its own policy of integration called interculturalism. In the analysis of the development of identity and nationalism, the methodology is a critical examination of the empirical experiences of Québec and the theses of the theoretical concepts of Charles Taylor and Will Kymlicka. It was necessary to study Taylor's and Kymlicka's theses on multiculturalism, identity, communitarianism, and liberalism as a starting point for analyzing the development of Québec. It was important to formulate definitions of identity, nation, and multiculturalism, to determine the main categories of content, and to analyze the development of the Québec identity during...

Maintenant est une revue catholique québécoise fondée par les Dominicains et publiée de 1962 à 1974. Ses animateurs et animatrices sont des catholiques qui adhèrent à la philosophie du personnalisme. D'après celle-ci, la vraie foi catholique est vécue dans l'engagement au sein de la société : chaque croyant et chaque croyante est invité.e à transformer le monde profane selon les critères évangéliques. Les auteurs et autrices du mensuel voient dans les nombreuses institutions catholiques du Québec - la chrétienté - un obstacle à la réalisation de cet idéal et mènent par conséquent une charge à fond de train contre cette « politique » du clergé canadien-français. Pour appuyer leur critique, ils développent une analyse complexe et cohérente du paysage religieux québécois qui lie la chrétienté au conformisme et à l'ignorance religieuse, elle-même facteur décisif dans le décrochage religieux observé à leur époque. À partir du milieu des années 1960, la chrétienté n'existe plus - notamment en raison de l'entrée en vigueur du « Bill 60 » du gouvernement de Jean Lesage - et les auteurs portent progressivement leur attention du côté de la sécularisation des mentalités : ils proposent des réformes pastorales, liturgiques et ecclésiologiques pour adapter le catholicisme à la « mentalité séculière ». Le tout se déroule sur la toile de fond des travaux de Vatican II (1962-1965) qui s'inspirent de la philosophie personnaliste chère à Maintenant. Or, la revue s'avère très critique et déçue des réformes romaines qu'elle juge peu ambitieuses et mal appliquées. / Maintenant is a French Canadian catholic paper created by the Dominican Order and published from 1962 to 1974. Its authors are proponents of Emmanuel Mounier’s personalism. According to this philosophy, the true catholic faith calls for believers to positively transform profane society following evangelical lines. Maintenant’s writers postulate that Québec’s numerous catholic institutions are an obstacle to this ideal : rather than encourage believers to reshape their environment, these institutions seek to isolate them from society in order to shield them from nefarious beliefs and temptations. This « system », la chrétienté, is relentlessly criticized and painted as the main cause behind the observed religious decline. Indeed, the monthly publication argues that these institutions are indissociable from an authoritarian stance that breeds conformism and religious ignorance. From 1965 onward, secularism in Québec dramatically reduces the Catholic Church’s institutional presence. The Liberals’ « Bill 60 », for example, makes the government the primary actor in matters of public education. In turn, the intellectuals of Maintenant gradually shift their focus from la chrétienté to secularism’s impact on religious belief and practice. Convinced that Catholicism and the rising secular mentality can coexist, they put forward ideas of pastoral, liturgical and ecclesiological reform aimed at reconciling the two. These propositions are deeply influenced by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) during which a majority of the clergy is won over by personalist ideals. The paper’s authors are nonetheless disappointed by the reforms emanating from the works of the Council as they are deemed unambitious and badly implemented.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Pendant les années 1950 et 1960, Montréal se modernise sur plusieurs aspects. L’influence de l’administration de la ville sur cette modernisation est bien connue. Toutefois, les perspectives des acteurs extérieurs sont souvent ignorées. Ce mémoire examine donc les opinions de la Chambre de commerce de Montréal sur la modernisation de la métropole québécoise lors de ces deux décennies. La source principale utilisée pour effectuer cette étude a été la revue hebdomadaire de la Chambre, Commerce-Montréal. Dans le premier chapitre, les opinions de la Chambre de commerce sur la gouvernance municipale sont examinées. Celles-ci montrent que la Chambre percevait l’assainissement des moeurs politiques et l’amélioration de l’efficacité administrative comme intrinsèques à la modernisation de Montréal. Le deuxième chapitre porte sur la circulation automobile et le transport en commun. La Chambre proposait des moyens d’accélérer le débit de la circulation qu’elle jugeait crucial pour la modernisation de la métropole. Le troisième chapitre traite du développement urbain. D’après la Chambre, la modernisation de Montréal exigeait le renouvellement du cadre bâti de la ville, tant résidentiel que commercial. L’étude de ces trois thèmes confirme que, pendant la période 1950-1970, la Chambre de commerce a contribué de manière significative aux débats concernant la modernisation de Montréal. Nous relevons aussi que l’organisme, malgré son désir de paraître apolitique, a été influencé par sa fonction de représentant de la communauté d’affaires francophone. L’importance accordée à la rentabilité de la modernisation, ainsi que la hiérarchisation sociale attribuée à certains sujets, confirment notamment les orientations conservatrices de l’organisme. / During the 1950s and 1960s, Montréal was becoming increasingly modernized. It is well known that the municipal administration had a considerable influence on this modernization. However, the perspectives of exterior actors have often been ignored. As such, this thesis examines the opinions of the Chambre de commerce de Montréal (the city’s francophone chamber of commerce) on the modernization of Québec’s metropolis during the above-mentioned decades. The main source that was used for this study was the Chambre’s weekly publication, Commerce-Montréal. The first chapter examines the Chambre’s opinions on municipal governance. It shows that, for the Chambre, the modernization of Montréal required the elimination of corrupt political practices and an increase in government efficiency. The second chapter studies traffic flow. It explains the Chambre’s positions on measures aimed at increasing the speed of traffic. The organization saw this as crucial to the modernization of the city. The third chapter discusses urban development. According to the Chambre, Montréal’s modernization necessitated a renewal of both its residential and commercial built environment. Studying these three themes confirmed that, from 1950 to 1970, the Chambre de commerce contributed to the debates concerning the modernization of Montréal, advocating in favour of it. It is also evident that the organization, despite its desire to appear apolitical, was influenced by its position as representative of the francophone business community. In particular, the Chambre’s emphasis on the profitability of modernization, as well as its focus on social stratification (regarding certain issues) attest to the organization’s conservative nature.

Les mythes américains génèrent des symboles et des stéréotypes fréquents dans l’imaginaire collectif. Leur usage dans la littérature québécoise exclut toute idéologie, privilégiant l’acte fondateur d’une nouvelle mythologie. Les mythes québécois se sont d’abord distingués de ceux de l’Amérique. Ils ont porté un regard critique sur la globalisation que peut susciter le territoire américain. En élaborant leur littérature nationale, les auteurs québécois de la Révolution tranquille ont formulé d’autres pistes interprétatives autour des mythes américains. L’américanité offre des perspectives anthropologiques fluides à l’adaptation du mythe au cinéma et en littérature. Le mythe tel que le définit Roland Barthes permet une interprétation contemporaine de chaque mythe québécois présenté dans cette étude. Le corpus est donc composé d’œuvres québécoises et étatsuniennes, de films de Denys Arcand et Clint Eastwood, de romans et textes argumentatifs de notre auteur tranquille référent, Jacques Godbout mais aussi de Jacques Poulin, Philippe Aubert de Gaspé, Antonine Maillet, Anne Hébert, Jack Kerouac. / American myths generate recurring symbols and stereotypes in the collective imagination. In Quebec literature, the use of these myths ignores ideology, favouring the founding act of a new mythology. Quebec myths firstly distinguished themselves from American myths, carrying with them a critical perspective on the globalising process driven by the American territory. In developing their national literature, Quebec authors from the Quiet Revolution shaped new interpretations of American myths. Americanness offers changing anthropological perspectives for the adaptation of myths into film and literature. The myth as Roland Barthes defines it, enables a contemporary interpretation of each Quebec myth you can find in this study. Thus, the corpus in my dissertation is made up of Quebec and American works, movies directed by Denys Arcand and Clint Eastwood and novels or argumentative essays by the quiet author who is the subject of this dissertation, Jacques Godbout as well as Jacques Poulin, Philippe Aubert de Gaspé, Antonine Maillet, Anne Hébert and Jack Kerouac.

Pendant les années 1950 et 1960, Montréal se modernise sur plusieurs aspects. L’influence de l’administration de la ville sur cette modernisation est bien connue. Toutefois, les perspectives des acteurs extérieurs sont souvent ignorées. Ce mémoire examine donc les opinions de la Chambre de commerce de Montréal sur la modernisation de la métropole québécoise lors de ces deux décennies. La source principale utilisée pour effectuer cette étude a été la revue hebdomadaire de la Chambre, Commerce-Montréal. Dans le premier chapitre, les opinions de la Chambre de commerce sur la gouvernance municipale sont examinées. Celles-ci montrent que la Chambre percevait l’assainissement des moeurs politiques et l’amélioration de l’efficacité administrative comme intrinsèques à la modernisation de Montréal. Le deuxième chapitre porte sur la circulation automobile et le transport en commun. La Chambre proposait des moyens d’accélérer le débit de la circulation qu’elle jugeait crucial pour la modernisation de la métropole. Le troisième chapitre traite du développement urbain. D’après la Chambre, la modernisation de Montréal exigeait le renouvellement du cadre bâti de la ville, tant résidentiel que commercial. L’étude de ces trois thèmes confirme que, pendant la période 1950-1970, la Chambre de commerce a contribué de manière significative aux débats concernant la modernisation de Montréal. Nous relevons aussi que l’organisme, malgré son désir de paraître apolitique, a été influencé par sa fonction de représentant de la communauté d’affaires francophone. L’importance accordée à la rentabilité de la modernisation, ainsi que la hiérarchisation sociale attribuée à certains sujets, confirment notamment les orientations conservatrices de l’organisme. / During the 1950s and 1960s, Montréal was becoming increasingly modernized. It is well known that the municipal administration had a considerable influence on this modernization. However, the perspectives of exterior actors have often been ignored. As such, this thesis examines the opinions of the Chambre de commerce de Montréal (the city’s francophone chamber of commerce) on the modernization of Québec’s metropolis during the above-mentioned decades. The main source that was used for this study was the Chambre’s weekly publication, Commerce-Montréal. The first chapter examines the Chambre’s opinions on municipal governance. It shows that, for the Chambre, the modernization of Montréal required the elimination of corrupt political practices and an increase in government efficiency. The second chapter studies traffic flow. It explains the Chambre’s positions on measures aimed at increasing the speed of traffic. The organization saw this as crucial to the modernization of the city. The third chapter discusses urban development. According to the Chambre, Montréal’s modernization necessitated a renewal of both its residential and commercial built environment. Studying these three themes confirmed that, from 1950 to 1970, the Chambre de commerce contributed to the debates concerning the modernization of Montréal, advocating in favour of it. It is also evident that the organization, despite its desire to appear apolitical, was influenced by its position as representative of the francophone business community. In particular, the Chambre’s emphasis on the profitability of modernization, as well as its focus on social stratification (regarding certain issues) attest to the organization’s conservative nature.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal