Tension et paradoxe : la construction identitaire dans l'oeuvre romanesque de benjamin disraeli

Tension and paradox : the quest for identity in benjamin disraeli's novels

• Auteur / Autrice : Xavier Lachazette
• Direction : Georges Lamoine
• Type : Thèse de doctorat
• Discipline(s) : Études anglaises
• Date : Soutenance en 1997
• Etablissement(s) : Toulouse 2

Mots clés

Mots clés contrôlés

Roman

Disraeli, Benjamin (1804-1881)

Résumé

Pour en finir avec le mythe du ''masque'' disraelien, l'auteur propose une nouvelle approche de la personnalite complexe de benjamin disraeli. En majeure partie grace a l'etude de ses douze romans, est mise en evidence l'evolution de la pensee et de l'attitude critique de disraeli envers ses propres origines juives et le concept de race (chapitre un), puis envers la moralite victorienne (chapitre deux). Souffrant bien moins d'insincerite chronique que d'un simple sentiment d'inferiorite du a sa judeite marquee et a la bisexualite que suggerent ses romans, les tensions et paradoxes de la vie et de la pensee de disraeli sont a mettre sur le compte d'une lente construction identitaire dont les principales etapes sont visibles dans son oeuvre romanesque. Vu sous cet angle, le mythe du monstre d'ambition ou du masque mysterieux cede la place a la realite d'un etre humain de chair et de sang, plus tolerant que ses contemporains, assoiffe de reconnaissance sociale autant qu'intellectuelle, et luttant difficilement contre le regard desapprobateur - a demi interiorise - que portait sur lui son epoque. Cette discussion est suivie de nombreuses annexes. Est donnee tout d'abord la bibliographie chronologique des oeuvres de disraeli, de son pere isaac et de sa soeur sarah, qui eurent tous deux une influence certaine sur la formation de son caractere. On trouvera ensuite le texte inedit, precede d'un commentaire, du premier conte de disraeli (intitule aylmer papillon), ainsi qu'une presentation thematique des extraits les plus memorables des douze romans etudies.

Wishing to do away with the myth of the ''disraelian mask'', the author suggests a new approach to benjamin disraeli's complex personality. Mostly based on the study of the novelist's twelve works, from vivian grey to falconet, this discussion focuses more particularly on the evolution of disraeli's thought and attitude towards his jewish origins and the concept of ''race'' (chapter one), and towards victorian morality (chapter two). His reputation as a chronically insincere man is here challenged and replaced with the perception that, harassed by an inferiority complex stemming from his marked jewish background and the bisexuality that his novels suggest, the tensions and paradoxes of his life and work should rather be attributed to his slow quest for the identity that would eventually make him feel confortable with himself. In other words, for the long-time notion that disraeli was a mysterious statesman devoured by ambition, this analysis aims at substituting the more probable and humanreality of a man who was more tolerant than his contemporaries, who needed both social and intellectual recognition, and endeavoured to fight the narrow prejudices of his time. Several appendices conclude the discussion. The bibliography of all the works of benjamin disraeli is given in chronological order, followed by those of this father isaac and his sister sarah, both of whom exerted no small influence on the building of his character. Finally, preceded by a commentary, the hitherto unpublished text of disraeli's first tale aylmer papillon is quoted in full, and memorable excerpts from his twelve novels are thematically arranged in order to provide the reader with an idea of his point of view on various subjects.