Open AccessLa révolte et la croix : Paul Claudel de La Ville
Author(s) -
Boštjan Marko Turk
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
romanica cracoviensia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.1
H-Index - 1
eISSN - 2084-3917
pISSN - 1732-8705
DOI - 10.4467/20843917rc.21.019.14191
Subject(s) - heaven , enthusiasm , drama , narrative , philosophy , predestination , art , theology , literature
The revolt and the cross : Paul Claudel from La VilleThe second variant of La Ville, written in the light of conversion in 1886, bears the marks of readings made by the author at a crucial moment in the evolution of his thought. Apart from the declared animosities (towards Renan and Taine, above all), the spirit of revolt, as well as the reminiscences of the natural disaster, bring to mind Claudel’s enthusiasm for the Illuminations. But that’s not the only source of inspiration. Claudel, in the throes of conversion, introduces the Judeo-Christian narrative to thwart the enigma of predestination. La Ville is also based on Christian eschatological symbols : at the end of the drama these allow the son of the poet (Coeuvre) and his muse (Lâla) to carry out the general conversion. The kingdom of heaven is now, mutatis mutandis, within the reach of humankind.