La Fontaine et le théâtre

La fontaine and the theatre

• Auteur / Autrice : Joseph Chraim
• Direction : Jacques Morel
• Type : Thèse de doctorat
• Discipline(s) : Littérature et linguistique françaises
• Date : Soutenance en 1987
• Etablissement(s) : Paris 3

Mots clés

Mots clés contrôlés

Théâtre (genre littéraire)

La Fontaine, Jean de (1621-1695)

Résumé

Disciple de terence, ami et admirateur des grands dramaturges du dix-septieme siecle, et surtout moliere et racine, la fontaine tente sa chance dans le domaine theatral. Premiere piece, l'eunuque (comedie), est une adaptation presque totale de l'eunuque latin : ''mediocre copie d'un excellent original''. (avertissement). Cette oeuvre ne connait pas l'honneur de la representation. Clymene, conte dialogue et non destine a la representation : melange d'analyse litteraire et psychologique. Astree (tragedie) est une adaptation de l'astree d'honore d'urfe. Apres six representations, elle est saluee par des epigrammes et des chansons moqueuses. Galatee et achille, deux tragedies inachevees, considerees par le dramaturge comme des ''essais theatraux''. La premiere est empruntee aux metamorphoses d'ovide mais ''habillee a la francaise''. La seconde est tiree de l'iliade d'homere. Originalite des deux ''exercices'': recherches stylistiques et maitrise incontestee de la versification. Daphne est un opera dont le sujet est inspire aussi des metamorphoses. But : rivaliser avec quinault et plaire au roi. Echec: thesee de quinault l'emporte. Le ballet: les rieurs du beau-richard: petite farce inspiree de la vie quotidienne des habitants de chateau-thierry. Deuxieme partie: le fabuliste est un grand dramaturge: la fable ancienne a caractere didactique devient dramatique. C'est un drame en miniature. Le fablier comporte plusieurs comedies et tragedies. Conclusion generale: le theatre de la fontaine est une vocation manquee et un reve irrealisable. Parler de ''theatre lafontainien'' est une pure folie. Toutefois, la ''theatralite'' des fables compense son echec dans le domaine.

Disciple of terence, friend and admirer of reputed greek dramatists of the seventeeth century: namely moliere and racine. La fontaine makes his first in the theatre. L'eunuque his first play, was a mere adaptation of the latin eunuque: ''a bad copy of an excellent original''. (in his warning). It was naver played. Clymene, a dialogue story, was not intended for representation: a mixed litterary and psychological analysis. Astree, a tragedy, is an adaptation of the astree of honore d'urfe. After six representations it was received with epigrams and mocked songs. Galatee and achille, two unfinished tragedies, considered by la fontaine as mere theatrical exercices. The former is inspired by metamorphoses of ovide but trenchised. The second one is drawn from the iliade of homere. Particularities of both essays: a stylistic effort and a mastering of versification. Daphne is an opera inspired by the metamorphoses. His goal was to compete with quinault and to please the king. Setbacks: thesee of quinault won the contest. A ballet play: les rieurs du beau-richard: a comedy inspired of the daily life of the inhabitants of chateau-thierry. The second part: the fabulist is a great dramatist: the old didactic fable becomes dramatic. It is a sort of a miniature drama. The fables book includes many comedies and tragedies. Conclusion: the theatre of la fontaine is a missed vocation and an unfulfilled dream. It is pure foolishness to talk about the theatre of la fontaine. However, le thatrical character of his fables compensates for his failure in this field.