Verlaine and Rimbaud in the face of Monnier’s creation A comparative reading of “Monsieur Prudhomme” and “À la musique”

The comparative reading of “Monsieur Prudhomme” by Verlaine and “À la musique” by Rimbaud reveals different adaptations of the caricatural, theatrical, and literary figure created by Monnier. Whereas Rimbaud expands on this source, the poetics of Verlaine appear to be more condensed. The first transposes and amplifies the caricature, while the second condenses it, giving it a reflexive dimension. Verlaine made it a doubly critical instrument.