L’AXE «PUBLIC» DANS LES TRAGÉDIES DE VOLTAIRE À L’ÉPOQUE NAPOLÉONIENNE (1800-1815)

At the turn of the 18th century, Voltaire was regarded as a preeminent tragic figure. Alongside Corneille and Racine, he held a significant place in the national heritage, as attested by the registers of the Comédie-Française, which recorded numerous revivals of his tragedies. Concurrently, the influence of the Revolution, when his Roman tragedies became emblematic of the republic, profoundly impacted the reception of his theatrical works during the Napoleonic era. Through an analysis of his performances and their connection to dramatic criticism, this study delves into the trajectory of Voltairean tragedy during the time of Napoleon I, a pivotal historical and literary phase that foreshadowed the subsequent condemnation of Voltaire's theater during the Romantic period.