Cette recherche, à partir de la pièce de Molière Les Précieuses ridicules, analyse l'opinion de l'auteur à l'égard du phénomène de la préciosité afin de déterminer les raisons de son attaque satirique contre les salonnières. Le mémoire s'ouvre sur une analyse du cadre historique dans laquelle sont établies les limites temporelles du mouvement précieux en France au XVIIe siècle et ses causes. Ces dernières sont à trouver dans les changements politiques et sociaux qui ont suivi la période de la Fronde et l’instauration de la monarchie absolutiste de Louis XIV. La deuxième partie, en passant en revue les satiristes les plus en vogue à l’époque, établit les sources plausibles de la pièce de Molière et détermine la nature politique de la satire. Ensuite, notre analyse met en lumière que les vraies cibles de Molière ne sont pas les précieuses mais les bourgeois qui aspirent à s’élever au niveau de l’aristocratie. La dernière partie est une réflexion sur le modèle de féminisme adopté par l’auteur et ses similarités avec la pensée de Mlle de Scudéry / This research paper, based on Molière's Les Précieuses ridicules, analyses the author's opinion of the phenomenon of “précieusité” in order to determine the reasons for his satirical attack on the “salonnières”. The essay opens with a historical framework in which are established the temporal limits and the causes of the precious movement in France in the seventeenth century. The latter are located in the political and social changes that followed the period of the Fronde and the establishment of the absolutist monarchy of Louis XIV. The second part, by reviewing the most popular satirists of the time, establishes the plausible sources of Molière's play and determines the political nature of satire. Then, our analysis highlights how the true targets of Molière are not the précieuses but the bourgeois who aspire to rise to the level of the aristocracy. The last part is a reflection on the model of feminism adopted by the author and its similarities with Miss de Scudéry.

Este trabalho tem como tema a relação intertextual entre peças teatrais de Plauto, Molière e Suassuna estabelecida a partir da recorrência de temas e de caracteres desenvolvidos pelo comediógrafo romano na composição da comédia clássica. Para a contextualização das comédias na história e na literatura, foi abordada a questão do riso e do cômico ao longo dos séculos, bem como a relevância e a originalidade de cada um dos autores no panorama teatral. Como objeto de análise comparativa, foram tomadas as peças A Aululária, de Plauto; O Avarento, de Molière; e O Santo e a Porca, de Ariano Suassuna. A proposta deste estudo é mostrar como temas e personagens elaborados por Plauto foram relidos, transformados e integrados à obra de Molière e, posteriormente, à de Suassuna. No confronto entre as obras foi considerada a inovação e a reutilização de efeitos cômicos empregados pelos autores, de acordo com as teorias sobre a comicidade de Bergson e de Propp. A intertextualidade foi o conceito-chave para a análise de aspectos pontuais recorrentes entre as peças, em especial o personagem do avarento. / The present work discusses intertextual relations between theater plays by Plauto, Molière and Ariano Suassuna starting from recurrent themes and characters developed by the classical Roman comediographer. In order to place comedies in a proper historical and literary context, the development of laughter and the comic throughout the centuries as well as relevant and original traits contributed by each of the three playwrights have been analysed. The plays Aulularia (The Pot of Gold) by Plauto, O Avarento (The Miser) by Molière, and O Santo e a Porca (The Saint and the Sow) by Ariano Suassuna were compared in order to show how themes and characters created by Plauto were re-read, transformed and assimilated by Molière and later on by Suassuna. Concepts such as innovation and reworking of comic effects employed by the authors were analysed according to Bergson’s and Propp’s theory of the comic. Intertextuality was as a key concept in the analysis of these recurrent theatrical aspects – in particular the character of the Miser.

Este trabalho tem como tema a relação intertextual entre peças teatrais de Plauto, Molière e Suassuna estabelecida a partir da recorrência de temas e de caracteres desenvolvidos pelo comediógrafo romano na composição da comédia clássica. Para a contextualização das comédias na história e na literatura, foi abordada a questão do riso e do cômico ao longo dos séculos, bem como a relevância e a originalidade de cada um dos autores no panorama teatral. Como objeto de análise comparativa, foram tomadas as peças A Aululária, de Plauto; O Avarento, de Molière; e O Santo e a Porca, de Ariano Suassuna. A proposta deste estudo é mostrar como temas e personagens elaborados por Plauto foram relidos, transformados e integrados à obra de Molière e, posteriormente, à de Suassuna. No confronto entre as obras foi considerada a inovação e a reutilização de efeitos cômicos empregados pelos autores, de acordo com as teorias sobre a comicidade de Bergson e de Propp. A intertextualidade foi o conceito-chave para a análise de aspectos pontuais recorrentes entre as peças, em especial o personagem do avarento. / The present work discusses intertextual relations between theater plays by Plauto, Molière and Ariano Suassuna starting from recurrent themes and characters developed by the classical Roman comediographer. In order to place comedies in a proper historical and literary context, the development of laughter and the comic throughout the centuries as well as relevant and original traits contributed by each of the three playwrights have been analysed. The plays Aulularia (The Pot of Gold) by Plauto, O Avarento (The Miser) by Molière, and O Santo e a Porca (The Saint and the Sow) by Ariano Suassuna were compared in order to show how themes and characters created by Plauto were re-read, transformed and assimilated by Molière and later on by Suassuna. Concepts such as innovation and reworking of comic effects employed by the authors were analysed according to Bergson’s and Propp’s theory of the comic. Intertextuality was as a key concept in the analysis of these recurrent theatrical aspects – in particular the character of the Miser.

Este trabalho tem como tema a relação intertextual entre peças teatrais de Plauto, Molière e Suassuna estabelecida a partir da recorrência de temas e de caracteres desenvolvidos pelo comediógrafo romano na composição da comédia clássica. Para a contextualização das comédias na história e na literatura, foi abordada a questão do riso e do cômico ao longo dos séculos, bem como a relevância e a originalidade de cada um dos autores no panorama teatral. Como objeto de análise comparativa, foram tomadas as peças A Aululária, de Plauto; O Avarento, de Molière; e O Santo e a Porca, de Ariano Suassuna. A proposta deste estudo é mostrar como temas e personagens elaborados por Plauto foram relidos, transformados e integrados à obra de Molière e, posteriormente, à de Suassuna. No confronto entre as obras foi considerada a inovação e a reutilização de efeitos cômicos empregados pelos autores, de acordo com as teorias sobre a comicidade de Bergson e de Propp. A intertextualidade foi o conceito-chave para a análise de aspectos pontuais recorrentes entre as peças, em especial o personagem do avarento. / The present work discusses intertextual relations between theater plays by Plauto, Molière and Ariano Suassuna starting from recurrent themes and characters developed by the classical Roman comediographer. In order to place comedies in a proper historical and literary context, the development of laughter and the comic throughout the centuries as well as relevant and original traits contributed by each of the three playwrights have been analysed. The plays Aulularia (The Pot of Gold) by Plauto, O Avarento (The Miser) by Molière, and O Santo e a Porca (The Saint and the Sow) by Ariano Suassuna were compared in order to show how themes and characters created by Plauto were re-read, transformed and assimilated by Molière and later on by Suassuna. Concepts such as innovation and reworking of comic effects employed by the authors were analysed according to Bergson’s and Propp’s theory of the comic. Intertextuality was as a key concept in the analysis of these recurrent theatrical aspects – in particular the character of the Miser.

This thesis re-examines the role of marriage in the golden age of seventeenth-century French comedy. It reconsiders received wisdom on the subject to challenge acceptance of the final promise of marriage as a dénouement complet to comedy. Through an analysis of the themes of discontent, cuckoldry, fertility, non-heteronormative desire and widowhood, it offers an alternative view of what comedy can encompass. Close reading of works by Molière, Quinault, (Thomas) Corneille, (Françoise) Pascal, Ulrich and de Visé establishes that comedy can be both enjoyable and satisfying while incorporating elements that conflict with the marriage ideal. This thesis does not attempt to provide a full socio-historical reading of seventeenth-century attitudes to marriage, although an understanding of contemporary attitudes provides a starting point for close textual analysis. Critical theories, notably gender theory, are used where appropriate to further clarify the role of marriage in comedy. Chapter One presents and problematizes the framework of marriage as the structuring principle of comedy, drawing on themes of compatibility, discontent and desire. The second chapter focuses on anxiety regarding cuckoldry in comedy, relating it to the promise of marriage. An analysis of the desires of older characters in projected comedic marriages, particularly as these desires relate to fertility, is the guiding principle of Chapter Three, which also sets out essential terms of reference for the fourth chapter on widowhood and queer desire. The thesis demonstrates that rather than constituting a satisfying and happy ending, a constant challenge is posed to the promise of marriage by on-stage marriages, fears of cuckoldry, widowhood, and ‘inappropriate' or queer desires. I propose a more nuanced reading, showing that comedy can be fully satisfying and structurally complete without a final promise of marriage, and that, rather, comedy can incorporate significant elements that appear antithetical to the ideal of marriage typically associated with the genre.

Depuis le Moyen Age, le personnage du bourgeois est souvent objet de comédies. Victime de farces qui se plaisent à souligner la balourdise de l’individu placé de par sa situation sociale dans l’inconfort de l’entre-deux, il est puissant par le jeu commercial et financier qu’il régit mais écarté du pouvoir, apanage de la noblesse (Rolland 79). Bien sûr, dans sa peinture du bourgeois, Molière cherche plus à distraire qu’à informer son public comme le ferait un véritable historien. Il ne faudrait donc pas considérer ce personnage de farce comme révélateur approprié des idéaux ou des vices d’une classe sociale définie. Il n’en demeure pas moins, comme le reconnaît Molière lui-même, que le but de la comédie est de présenter les défauts et les ridicules des hommes et en particulier ceux de son temps. Les œuvres de Molière, et en particulier Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme, apparaissent donc comme un outil non négligeable pour l’historien.

This Master's diploma thesis deals with the work of French playwright Molière, to be more precise, with types of characters in his plays. The thesis is not only based on Molière's main works Don Juan, Tartuffe or The Miser but it also studies characters in comedies like The Bourgeois Gentleman, Scapin's Deceits and others. It distinguishes two categories, major and minor characters. Nevertheless the attention is particularly focused on the minor characters. The goal of the thesis is to show what importance the characters have in Molière's plays and what is their role. Keywords: Classicism, Comedy, Molière, Character, French Drama, French Literature, Secondary Character

Cette recherche est consacrée aux autres langues entendues dans la comédie française entre 1650 et 1725 ; ces insertions hétérogènes sont constituées par des langues étrangères (italien, espagnol, flamand, suisse, allemand, polonais, russe, arabe, turc, africain, sabir), provinciales (occitan, basque, picard, patois francilien), anciennes (latin et grec) et imaginaires. On ajoute à cet ensemble les langues françaises caractérisées dans le texte par leur altérité ; les parlers des médecins, des hommes de justice et autres pédants sont donc également pris en compte. Ce pluralisme linguistique de la comédie « classique » est interrogé dans ses liens avec la réflexion de cette époque sur la langue française : on y rêve d’une langue « belle » et « pure », projection linguistique de la grandeur souhaitée pour la nation. On se demande ainsi dans quelle mesure les autres langues de la comédie entrent en interaction avec cette réflexion linguistique : en quoi leur convocation sur scène marque-t-elle la participation des dramaturges à une pensée de la langue située au cœur de l’honnêteté classique ? Comment ces usages verbaux soucieux à la fois de plaire et instruire contribuent-ils au développement d’un haut genre comique ? Nous examinons d’abord les interactions entre ces autres langues et la théorisation de la langue française, avant d’entrer dans un examen de leurs enjeux pragmatiques. Enfin, nous interrogeons les conséquences de la pratique des autres langues sur l’évolution du genre comique, et le devenir de ce phénomène dans sa confrontation aux théâtres de la Foire et des Italiens au début du siècle des Lumières. / This thesis deals with the other languages that were spoken on stage in French comedies from 1650 to 1725; by this we mean to study the various languages that were included such as foreign languages (Italian, Spanish, Flemish, Swiss, German, Polish, Russian, Arabic, Turkish, African, Lingua Franca), dialects (Occitan, Basque, Picard, Francilien), but also dead languages (Latin and Greek), as well as imaginary ones. We will also study other ways of speaking that are unique to a specific group, such as the language of learning used by doctors, men of the law, and pedants. We will study the links between this plurality of languages found in classical theatre and the approach to the French language of that time: there was a wish for a ‘beautiful’ and ‘pure’ language, which was the linguistic counterpart of the dream of a great nation. Next we ask ourselves in what way did the other languages interact with this linguistic approach – and to what extent their being used on stage was the sign that playwrights put language at the heart of ‘classical’ honesty. How did these different sorts of speech, which were intended both to entertain and to educate, contribute to the rise of a highly respected comic genre ? We will first look into the interactions between these other languages and the theoretical approach to the French language, before looking into the pragmatic issues at stake. Lastly, we will study how, at the beginning of the Enlightenment, the use of these different languages impacted the evolution of the comic genre, and how this phenomenon evolved as it was faced with the competition of both street performances held in funfairs and of the Italian theatre.

L'examen des méthodes d'analyse d'une oeuvre littéraire utilisée s par la psychocritique, l'histoire littéraire, l'histoire culturelle , la sociologie et la philosophie a permis l'élaboration de la notion de ridicule . La confrontation de cette notion de ridicule et des informations recueillie s lors de l'analyse thématique de deux pièces du théâtre de Molière nous autorise à traite r l'oeuvre de Molière comme une source historique . Les problèmes de l'autorité parentale, de l'amour, du mariage, de la situation des femmes et de leur éducation sont des éléments de la vision d'un monde bourgeois que Molière présente à ses contemporains dans les deux pièces retenues pour cette étude: Le Bourgeois gentilhomme (1670) qui nous présente un individu qualifié par l'auteur de "gentilhomme" et Les femmes savantes (1672) mettant en scène la soeur, la femme et les fille s d'un bourgeois. Cette thèse, par l'étude du théâtre de Molière, aide à visualise r la mentalité et les comportements d'un groupe social qualifié de bourgeois, possédant des lignes de force et une homogénéité face aux autres groupes sociaux. Cette bourgeoisie est composée d'individus "traditionnalistes " agressés par le comportement et les idées véhiculées par des membres de leur entourage et des bourgeois "marginaux" rejetant tout ce qui peut ressembler de près ou de loin au monde des bourgeois conformistes. Cette vision confirme l'hypothèse de la bourgeoisie en "mouvement", une bourgeoisie qui "sort de son "ordre" d’origine en accédant a la noblesse et à un autre niveau de culture, issues retenues par Molière dans les deux pièces. / Québec Université Laval, Bibliothèque 2012

This dissertation is a study of the comic intermezzo’s literary origins and musical practice in the years before Pergolesi’s La serva padrona (1733). It begins with a chronological examination of Italian comic plays and operas written between 1660 and 1723. During these years comic playwrights adopted a style of writing speech from the improvised theatre which makes use of what Richard Andrews (1993) refers to as “elastic gags.” This style of comedy flourished under Medici patronage in Florence in the last decades of the seventeenth century and then spread to Venice, Rome and Naples during the first years of the intermezzo’s development. It is a style of comedy shared with the plays of Molière, and other contemporaneous French authors. This dissertation examines several scenes based on French works which have previously not been identified as having earlier sources. The decision to adapt these earlier sources for the intermezzo did not occur in a vacuum. The practice of comedy in the intermezzo was conditioned by the artistic, social and political climate of Italy. This study investigates the relationship between intermezzos and the milieus which produced them. The success of some intermezzos, like Il marito giocatore (1719), resulted from a combination of their artistic merit and their broad social appeal, while others, like Albino e Plautilla (1723), were musically adept but remained obscure because their humour was specific to the world they satirized. Both intermezzos are indebted to earlier French sources. Many others which are metatheatrical in nature draw on contemporary debates about opera. A final section examines selected arias from the intermezzo repertory using incongruity theory. Comic theory makes clear that the intermezzo’s musical language was not a new development. Just as librettists drew on earlier written traditions to form the literary text of the intermezzo, composers drew on existing musical practices to create humour. The intermezzo was therefore not naively comic—a portrait of the genre which is all too common—but rather a repertory which was thoroughly enmeshed within contemporary artistic practice and a wider social and cultural world.