Theatre or revelation of ruses: Jonson and Middleton v Machiavel ; Le théâtre ou la révélation des ruses : Jonson et Middleton contre Machiavel

Abstract

Comparatisms in Sorbonne 3-2012: The Clotilde THOURET stage Ruse: 'Theatre, or the revelation of ruses: Jonson and Middleton vs Machiavel' 1 The theatre, or the revelation of ruses: Jonson and Middleton vs Machiavel The English Theatre of First Modernity probably provided a great deal for Marx's vision of capitalism. Not only is his analysis of wear and tear based on the Timon of Athens in Shakespeare 1, but his admirative astonishment at the creative capacity of capitalism may well have been inspired by the jacoban comedies and the harsh characters they portray. The energy and ingenuity deployed by Sir Giles Overreach, Subtle, and others Witgood to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the early capitalism are truly surprising 2. It would appear that the truth itself entered a competition regime. Jean-Christophe Agnew, exploring the confrontational parallel between the market and theatre, measured how much the dramatic production of this time bears the mark of a meaningful crisis affecting all men's activities: through its stratagems, the harsh character metamorphoses the traditional signs and social symbols (language, clothing, rank, etc.) into vulgaries with exchange objects, easily exchangeable goods having lost any ontological link with the reality of positions and identities 3. These economic upheavals are also compounded by political and cultural changes that also disrupt the status of reality or access to truth: demystification and the promotion of secrecy in all areas (political action, legal field, ordinary social life, etc.) is accompanied by the development of concealment and simulation techniques which remove people from the truth and seem to surround them with illusions 4. The promotion of secrecy and ruse also tends to weaken the traditional loyalty bond, already undermined by the emergence of the modern state, religious wars, political instability and the promotion of the private sphere, thus giving very strong political resonance to concerns arising from the upheaval of the end of the ...