극작가 스탕달: 『르텔리에』에 관한 연구 (1)

Abstract

Stendhal, who abruptly stopped Les deux Hommes which was to deal with the two opposing protagonists, republicans and royalists, began to plan a new play, Letellier. In 1801, Napoleon and the Vatican signed a treaty (The Concordat), and Napoleon was crowned emperor in 1804. Stendhal praised Napoleon for spreading the spirit of the French Revolution, but he could not hide his disappointment when Napoleon became emperor. In Letellier, he attempted to criticize Napoleon for using religion to consolidate his power and the Catholic Church for siding with Napoleon. He also decided to ridicule writers and critics such as Geoffroy, La Harpe and Chateaubriand, who defended the dictatorship in the name of religion or propagated religion to serve the dictatorship. Finally, he also criticized the unenlightened public who blindly accepted the fact that religious people use religion to promote despotism. Letellier, aged 50, is an obscurantist journalist with enormous influence and a representative of the camp which supports the ideals of the despot while distorting public opinion. On the other hand, the young playwright Chapelle is a philosopher of the Enlightenment, an ideal character with all the advantages that Stendhal wanted to give to his protagonist. Letellier constantly tries to bring about Chapelle's downfall, but in the end, Letellier falls and Chapelle's comedy is performed. It shows the victory of the Republicans in the fight between Republicans and Royalists. Letellier clearly reflects Stendhal's political, religious and critical opinions between the ages of 20 and 22. However, Stendhal, who attempted to become the greatest playwright in France, failed to complete his work and transformed himself into an art critic and novelist.