This paper emphasizes the importance of a detail from La Rochefoucauld’s self-portrait: the « black eyes » symbolize the melancholy of the moralist, and announce the tone of the Maxims and their commentaries. Some critics denounce a bias towards pessimism, but melancholy seems to be a rule for moral analysis.
CLIL theme: 4028 -- SCIENCES HUMAINES ET SOCIALES, LETTRES -- Lettres et Sciences du langage -- Lettres -- Etudes de littérature comparée
ISBN:978-2-406-06986-7
EAN:9782406069867
ISSN: 2286-136X
DOI: 10.15122/isbn.978-2-406-06986-7.p.0195
Publisher: Classiques Garnier
Online publication: 06-09-2017
Periodicity: Biannual
Language: French
Keyword: François de La Rochefoucauld, self-portrait, maxim, moralist, pessimism