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Once More on Voltaire’s “Work” in Bohemia, or Why Dobrovský Postponed Reading It
Madl, Claire
The definition of a work as an event is apt for characterising Voltaire’s writings. For not only do we record their impact on historical events, but we also consider Voltaire himself one of the first intellectuals to step out into the public arena to change the “state of affairs”. However, this topicality of his work is certainly a difficulty when examining its reception in the Czech Lands in the generations of his contemporaries, i.e. the actors of the “Czech Enlightenment” and the first Czech National Revival. A more thorough analysis of this matter (Minař, Kopal, Vodička 1964) not only observed the popularity of Voltaire’s plays and hints of “Voltairianism” as a critical or even ironic approach towards monasticism, superstition, clericalism and fatalism, but also noted that local authors only claimed allegiance to Voltaire in order to explicitly reject a figure that embodied theism and free-thinking. Dobrovsky’s often commented hesitation to read Voltaire’s work seems particularly enigmatic. Thanks to the now more accessible knowledge about book imports to the Czech Lands and using two conceptual approaches, we will try to contribute to this discussion and, subsequently, to the definition of a work and its impact on society. First, we will take into account the material nature of a work, whose dissemination depends on its physical characteristics. In the case of Voltaire, the language of dissemination of his writings and the nature of the book market in the second half of the 18th century seem to be crucial for the Czech Lands. Furthermore, the angle of viewing Voltaire’s work was strongly influenced by the social context of his reputation. Finally, censorship practices were an inevitable but ambiguous obstacle. This approach can situate the moments of reception of a work in the temporality of its never-finished construction, which, following Pierre-Michel Menger, we will conceive as a process of its “rarefaction, consolidation and growth”.
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In search of tragical effect during Regency: the birth of philosophical tragedy
Očenáš, Marek ; Pohorský, Aleš (advisor) ; Pechar, Jiří (referee) ; Frantz, Pierre (referee)
1 Recherche de l'effet tragique à l'époque de la Régence : naissance de la tragédie philosophique Dans le cadre général d'une interrogation sur le renouvellement de la tragédie classique française à l'époque de la Régence (1715-1723), le travail étudie plus spécifi- quement la manière dont la recherche de l'effet tragique conduit à la naissance de la tragédie philosophique. Ce travail prend appui sur l'analyse des pièces représentées à la Comédie-Française au cours de cette période et accorde une attention particulière à leur réception contemporaine dans la presse périodique et dans les brochures. Il envisage d'abord les recherches de renouvellement de la tragédie à partir de deux polémiques, la Querelle des Anciens et des Modernes et la querelle sur la moralité du théâtre, en montrant comment la réflexion sur le théâtre conduit les auteurs à chercher des effets dramatiques mieux adaptés aux attentes d'un public dont la sensibilité évolue au début du XVIII e siècle. Il établit ensuite que la production d'un plus grand effet est liée, d'une part, à l'intensification de l'effet de terreur à travers la mise en scène du personnage odieux et, d'autre part, à la recherche d'une plus grande action grâce à l'exploitation des éléments du sacré (oracles, prêtres et chœur). Il démontre enfin que, si les impiétés...
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Search of happiness in Voltaire's novels
Pokšteflová, Marie ; Pohorský, Aleš (advisor) ; Jamek, Václav (referee)
My diploma thesis called Search of happiness in Voltaire's novels aims to analyse the theme of happiness in prose works Micromegas, L'Ingénu, Zadig and Candide. The analysis is preceded by an introduction showing the evolution of the theme of happiness through different historical periods. This theoretical part is also followed by a definition of philosophical novel as a typical Voltaire's way of expressing his philosophical thoughts. The analysis itself underlines common points of view found in the novels which all describe a world full of evil, disasters and misfortune. Good and honest heroes enter into this bad world and they struggle to find their place in the sun. Their nice personalities present a big contrast to the merciless world which surrounds them. The analysed examples from novels highlight major problems in Voltaire's time but a lot of parallels are found in today's world. I systematically pay attention to these parallels throughout the diploma. The analysis leads to the description of incorrigibly bad world, where only small islands of happiness can be found represented by friendship and love. We can only deal with such a life thanks to a meaningful activity which can make it bearable. The philosopher's approach to the theme which still captures people's attention is evaluated in the...
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Joan of Arc, birth of a myth and the Johannine revival
Svobodová, Karolína ; Listíková, Renáta (advisor) ; Fučíková, Milena (referee)
The subject of this diploma thesis is the French national heroine Joan of Arc and her portrayal and reflection in literary works throughout the centuries. The diploma thesis mentions the historical personality of Joan of Arc in the context of the time she lived in, reconstructs the life of this French saint and deals with the rehabilitation process that completes the myth of the French national heroine. This diploma thesis summarizes the important European literary works that Joan of Arc is the most important theme. The diploma thesis deals more with literary works in which Joan of Arc is the main character but each author writes her story and describes her personality from a different point of view. And precisely these differences of the thesis are analyzed. The diploma thesis focuses more on the literary works of various authors such as Voltaire, Jules Michelet, Anatole France and Stéphen Coubé. The diploma thesis deals also with the portrayal of Joan of Arc in the 20th and 21st centuries.
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In search of tragical effect during Regency: the birth of philosophical tragedy
Očenáš, Marek ; Pohorský, Aleš (advisor) ; Pechar, Jiří (referee) ; Frantz, Pierre (referee)
1 Recherche de l'effet tragique à l'époque de la Régence : naissance de la tragédie philosophique Dans le cadre général d'une interrogation sur le renouvellement de la tragédie classique française à l'époque de la Régence (1715-1723), le travail étudie plus spécifi- quement la manière dont la recherche de l'effet tragique conduit à la naissance de la tragédie philosophique. Ce travail prend appui sur l'analyse des pièces représentées à la Comédie-Française au cours de cette période et accorde une attention particulière à leur réception contemporaine dans la presse périodique et dans les brochures. Il envisage d'abord les recherches de renouvellement de la tragédie à partir de deux polémiques, la Querelle des Anciens et des Modernes et la querelle sur la moralité du théâtre, en montrant comment la réflexion sur le théâtre conduit les auteurs à chercher des effets dramatiques mieux adaptés aux attentes d'un public dont la sensibilité évolue au début du XVIII e siècle. Il établit ensuite que la production d'un plus grand effet est liée, d'une part, à l'intensification de l'effet de terreur à travers la mise en scène du personnage odieux et, d'autre part, à la recherche d'une plus grande action grâce à l'exploitation des éléments du sacré (oracles, prêtres et chœur). Il démontre enfin que, si les impiétés...
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Search of happiness in Voltaire's novels
Pokšteflová, Marie ; Pohorský, Aleš (advisor) ; Jamek, Václav (referee)
My diploma thesis called Search of happiness in Voltaire's novels aims to analyse the theme of happiness in prose works Micromegas, L'Ingénu, Zadig and Candide. The analysis is preceded by an introduction showing the evolution of the theme of happiness through different historical periods. This theoretical part is also followed by a definition of philosophical novel as a typical Voltaire's way of expressing his philosophical thoughts. The analysis itself underlines common points of view found in the novels which all describe a world full of evil, disasters and misfortune. Good and honest heroes enter into this bad world and they struggle to find their place in the sun. Their nice personalities present a big contrast to the merciless world which surrounds them. The analysed examples from novels highlight major problems in Voltaire's time but a lot of parallels are found in today's world. I systematically pay attention to these parallels throughout the diploma. The analysis leads to the description of incorrigibly bad world, where only small islands of happiness can be found represented by friendship and love. We can only deal with such a life thanks to a meaningful activity which can make it bearable. The philosopher's approach to the theme which still captures people's attention is evaluated in the...
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