La Cousine Bette poses with concern the problem of the working class’ desire for social ascension, only partially and exceptionally fulfilled in the particular context of the French Revolution and the First Empire. Bette represents the destructive force of the popular masses opposing social order embodied by her family, but ambiguity plays an important role in the creation of this character. Even though Balzac insists on the low motivations of the poor cousin (envy), he also underlines the injustice of her destiny and depicts Bette as constantly victimized by her family’s decisions. In spite of her undeniable diabolic power, however, the character embodies all the elements evoking the impotence of the working class in Balzac’s Comédie Humaine; she is, therefore, unavoidably condemned to failure and defeat.
La Cousine Bette pone, con inquietudine, la questione della domanda di ascensione sociale proveniente dalle classi lavoratrici e solo parzialmente realizzata nelle circostanze eccezionali della Rivoluzione francese e dell’Impero. Bette rappresenta la forza distruttrice delle masse popolari in rivolta contro l’ordine sociale e la famiglia che lo incarna, ma un’ambiguità pesa sul trattamento di questo personaggio. Se Balzac insiste sulle motivazioni moralmente basse della cugina povera (l’invidia), illustra anche l’ingiustizia di un destino di eterna sacrificata dalle politiche familiari; se gli conferisce un potere diabolico, il personaggio ha però tutti i segni che nella Comédie Humaine rimandano all’impotenza delle classi lavoratrici e che lo condannano, a priori, alla sconfitta.
Lisbeth, ou les limites de la vengeance populaire
Agnese Silvestri
2020-01-01
Abstract
La Cousine Bette poses with concern the problem of the working class’ desire for social ascension, only partially and exceptionally fulfilled in the particular context of the French Revolution and the First Empire. Bette represents the destructive force of the popular masses opposing social order embodied by her family, but ambiguity plays an important role in the creation of this character. Even though Balzac insists on the low motivations of the poor cousin (envy), he also underlines the injustice of her destiny and depicts Bette as constantly victimized by her family’s decisions. In spite of her undeniable diabolic power, however, the character embodies all the elements evoking the impotence of the working class in Balzac’s Comédie Humaine; she is, therefore, unavoidably condemned to failure and defeat.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.