Pragmatic Values of Violent Discourse in Molière’s Comedies

Abstract

Molière’s comedies are fundamentally based on a conflict concretized discursively through aggressive language used on both sides for different purposes. They usually revolve around a dispute between two individuals or two rival clans who dispute controversial interests. The question of power and its distribution within discursive contributions is at the heart of this genre of comedy. It is always a question of a third party (authoritarian father, romantic rival, or jealous husband) with legitimate power who threatens the love project of two young individuals. Discursive strategies denouncing aggression are generally mobilized to circumvent a social norm that is too strong to be disrespected. The fundamental objective remains, in our opinion, to serve a cathartic comedy which, while erecting models not to be followed, does not forget to make them the laughingstock of the public. The comedy that arises from such conflicting situations is fundamentally cathartic as it helps weak characters vent their grudges against more powerful characters. It also serves to question the balance of power and to partially submit to revision the relationships established between characters motivated by opposing aspirations.