Études françaises

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La perception de la folie dans "Adieu" de Balzac et "Thérèse Raquin" de Zola et leurs adaptations cinématographiques ou théâtrales
(2021-07-06) Dana Vuckovic; Marie-Christine Aubin
This Masters thesis seeks to explain the nature and mystery of madness as well as the indispensable role it plays in two literary works: "Thérèse Raquin" written by Émile Zola in 1868 and "Adieu", a short story by Honoré de Balzac published in 1830. These literary texts are compared to several of their cinematographic and theatrical adaptations dating from 1953 to 2013. The research explores the ways in which human desires and passions represent the potential causes of mental instability for persons living not only in the 19th century, but also for the people of todays day and age. By studying madness through a historical perspective, this work identifies the various definitions of madness proposed by Ancient Greeks as well by 19th century French psychiatrists. This study means to elucidate how the cinematographic and theatrical adaptations differ from the source texts and how directors translate mental illness through staging and framing.