Les sermons du Dominicain Jean Clérée (1455-1507) Un jalon parmi d’autres vers la comédie de mœurs

Jean Clérée who is considered an austere character, appears in his Lent sermon said to be from Valenciennes, as a more subtle preacher. If he uses the religion of fear, he did not hesitate either to turn to some processes announcing the comédie de mœurs : well portrayed characters, comical situations follow each other, crudeness of popular speech, frequent ruptures of tone and bursts of speech, challenges to listeners, brief dialogues weighted down with misunderstandings. This sermon makes feel like attending a comedy inspired by everyday life and intended to rectify behaviour through laugh (castigat ridendo mores).