Le crotesque caresme-prenant de Jules Mazarin, par dialogue
La Description
Cette Mazarinade est écrite dans le style d’un dialogue entre un « carême-prenant » et « Son Eminence ». Un carême-prenant, épelé à l’époque avec un « s », est quelqu’un qui fait la fête, comme dans le style du carnavalesque. Il y a juste ces deux personnages, et le dialogue est cinq petites pages de conversation entre les deux. En commençant à lire, on peut voir immédiatement que l’auteur utilise le carnivalesque, avec les mots de vocabulaire et les références à la nourriture et à manger, pour raconter cette histoire.Après la première lecture, on comprend toutes les références à la viande, à la nourriture en général, et au vin. Il semble que le carême-prenant veuille aider Son Eminence à manger, et qu’il entre dans une conversation sur ce qu’il veut choisir pour le repas. D’un autre côté, il y a un sens d’un rapport spécial entre le carême-prenant et Son Eminence, et que le carême-prenant doit partir ou « quitter » Son Eminence. Cet rapport et plus ou moins intime. Il y a aussi le nom « mon Maitre » que le carême-prenant utilise pour parler à Son Eminence, et par la suite ça veut dire aussi qu’il y a un rapport intéressant entre les deux personnages qui est très intime ou personnel. Le mot « Maitre » peut aussi signifier que le carême-prenant doit répondre à Son Eminence ou qu’il y a un rapport hiérarchique. Il y a un exemple de ce rapport aussi à la fin du dialogue, ou le carême-prenant dit « je n’ai plus rien à vous donner… ». Le fait qu’il utilise aussi le mot « vous » au lieu de « tu » est important pour discuter de ce thème.
Le Contexte Historique
Pour bien comprendre ce pamphlet, il faut savoir quelque chose sur le grotesque et le carnavalesque et le rôle que les deux ont joué dans la société de Jules Mazarin. Après comprendre cela, on peut mieux comprendre toutes les références qui sont dans le pamphlet sur la nourriture et la fête et la culture de cette célébration. Alors la question de recherche est comment le carnavalesque et la Carnaval ont joué un rôle dans la société française sous le règne de Mazarin, et comment le grotesque s’applique aussi.Le carnaval était un temps pour oublier tous sur l’ordre et la normalité de la société et de célébrer le rassemblement de tous les peuples. Selon un article écrit par Olivier Jacquemond, le carnaval était spécifiquement une « forme de célébration collective et ritualisée de la désorientation (de sorte que le carnaval est un lointain ancêtre de la dérive psychogéographique situationniste) dont la fonction était de défaire temporairement les formes d’ordre, de relations de pouvoir établies et, par l’inversement des valeurs, de remettre le sens en circulation ».[1] Philippe Goujard a parlé du carnaval dans la même sens, mais en résumant un livre écrit par A. Fauvre, il a dit que le carnaval est « le temps d’une libération des corps par l’ingestion de nourriture, mais aussi par la danse. Il est le temps des excès, des abus et des débordements […] Mais il est aussi […] la fête de l’égalité symbolique ».[2] Alors sur cette idée, le carnavalesque était un style de littérature qui émule ce grand thème. Il provoque le chaos et l’humour selon le style du carnaval, en soulignant l’égalité du moment.
Qui était Mazarin? Pour savoir plus, regarder: L'Achat de Mazarin, en vers burlesques
L'analyse
Tout cela dit, il est plus facile de comprendre pourquoi l’auteur de cette Mazarinade a fait ce dialogue dans un style comme on a discuté au-dessus. La hiérarchie entre le carême-prenant et son Eminence est mise dans le dialogue pour souligner la hiérarchie qui existe dans la société normalement, mais que ça va disparaître pour la fête du carnaval. On peut maintenant comprendre pourquoi l’auteur a dit que « Le Carême-prenant », ou la personne qui fait partie de cette fête, va quitter Son Eminence, parce que c’est ça qui est le but de cette célébration.L’auteur parle aussi de la nourriture et du vin parce que c’est une grande partie de la fête en général. Les deux personnages dans ce dialogue prédisent ce qui va arriver dans le futur proche avec le carême-prenant et toute ce qu’il va manger et boire. Il y a une référence à la fin du dialogue aussi à « l’ordre », qui est un peu ironique quand on pense au fait que la fête est un temps pour le désordre.
Avec toutes les références ici, l’auteur met en évidence le fait que la hiérarchie est toujours un thème qui est à la base de la société de Mazarin, même s’il est le temps du Carnaval. Il faut avoir une conversation avec son éminence pour faire un effort à s’en débarrasser. La façon la plus facile pour décrire cette opinion est un dialogue, parce qu’il y a l’humour mais aussi parce que il démontre ce qui se passe au privé avec soi-même. À mon avis, l’auteur a fait un effort réussi à parler de la société autour du carnaval, et je pense qu’aux temps il a probablement également réussi.
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Description
This Mazarinade is written in the style of a dialogue between a “careme-prenant”, meaning someone who partakes in a party, or a party-goer in simpler terms, and “Son Eminance”, which can be almost directly translated to “his eminence”. The character of the “careme-prenant” follows the style of carnivalesque at the time, as the Carnival was a party that occurred before lent and which can be seen portrayed in the United States through Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The Mazarinade consists only of these two characters, and their dialogue consists of only five small pages between the two of them. It is more or less apparent at the beginning of the pamphlet that the author uses the style of grotesque to tell this story.
After the first reading, one understands all of the references to meat, food in general, and wine. It seems as if the careme-prenant wants to help Son Eminence eat, and they get into a conversation based on what Son Eminence wants to choose for his meal. There is also, though, evidence right away that there is a specific relationship between the careme-prenant and Son Eminence, and that the careme-prenant must leave Son Eminence. There is also usage of the title “mon Maitre” which means my master. This is the title the careme-prenant uses to speak to Son Eminence. This speaks to the theme of their relationship, and demonstrates that it is rather intimate or personal. The word “Maitre” could also signify that there is a hierarchical relationship between the two characters. Towards the end of the dialogue, there is another example of this when the careme-prenant uses the word “vous”, the respectful way to say “you” to those of a higher social status than you. While this could just be a sign of the times, it also does go along with the hierarchical theme.
Carnival was a time to forget everything about order and the normal functioning of society and to celebrate the assembly of all citizens. Based on an article written by Olivier Jacquemond, it was ultimately a form of collective and ritualized celebration, which served the function to detangle for a moment the forms of order, the relationships of established power, and by the reversal of values. Philippe Goujard spoke of Carnival in a similar sense, but in summarizing a book written by A. Fauvre he said that Carnival is the time of liberation of the body by the ingestion of food, but also with dance. It is the time of excess, abuse and overflow, but it is also a celebration of symbolic equality. Following this idea, carnivalesque was a style of literature and writing that expressed the theme of this party. It provoked chaos and humor under the style of carnival, also highlighting the equality that existed in the moment of this party.
Who was Mazarin? To find out more, visit: L'Achat de Mazarin, en vers burlesques
The author also chooses to speak about food and wine because it’s a large part of the celebration in general. The two characters in the dialogue predict what will arrive in the near future with the careme-prenant and everything he will eat and drink. At the end of the dialogue there is a reference to “order”, which is a little ironic when thinking about the fact that the celebration is a time for disorder.
With all of the references discussed here, the author proves that the idea of hierarchy is a theme that underlies everything in the society of Mazarin, even when speaking about the Carnival. A conversation has to exist with “Son Eminence” to actually tell it to disappear, to put in effort for it to do so. The easiest way to demonstrate this is through dialogue, because there is humor but also because it is a way to show what happens in private between two people, or even a conversation with oneself. In my opinion, the author here makes a successful effort to talk about the society that exists around Carnival, and I believe that during his time he probably was perceived as successful as well.
After the first reading, one understands all of the references to meat, food in general, and wine. It seems as if the careme-prenant wants to help Son Eminence eat, and they get into a conversation based on what Son Eminence wants to choose for his meal. There is also, though, evidence right away that there is a specific relationship between the careme-prenant and Son Eminence, and that the careme-prenant must leave Son Eminence. There is also usage of the title “mon Maitre” which means my master. This is the title the careme-prenant uses to speak to Son Eminence. This speaks to the theme of their relationship, and demonstrates that it is rather intimate or personal. The word “Maitre” could also signify that there is a hierarchical relationship between the two characters. Towards the end of the dialogue, there is another example of this when the careme-prenant uses the word “vous”, the respectful way to say “you” to those of a higher social status than you. While this could just be a sign of the times, it also does go along with the hierarchical theme.
Historical Context
To understand the pamphlet properly, it is important to know something about grotesque and carnivalesque, and the role that the two play in Mazarin’s society. After understanding this, one can better understand all the references that are in the pamphlet relating to food and parties and the culture surrounding this celebration of Carnival. So, the question being discussed in this analysis is how carnivalesque and the Carnival played a role in French society under the rein of Mazarin, and whether or how the theme of grotesque applies as well.Carnival was a time to forget everything about order and the normal functioning of society and to celebrate the assembly of all citizens. Based on an article written by Olivier Jacquemond, it was ultimately a form of collective and ritualized celebration, which served the function to detangle for a moment the forms of order, the relationships of established power, and by the reversal of values. Philippe Goujard spoke of Carnival in a similar sense, but in summarizing a book written by A. Fauvre he said that Carnival is the time of liberation of the body by the ingestion of food, but also with dance. It is the time of excess, abuse and overflow, but it is also a celebration of symbolic equality. Following this idea, carnivalesque was a style of literature and writing that expressed the theme of this party. It provoked chaos and humor under the style of carnival, also highlighting the equality that existed in the moment of this party.
Who was Mazarin? To find out more, visit: L'Achat de Mazarin, en vers burlesques
Analysis
With all of that being said, it should now be easier to understand why the author of this Mazarinade chose to create this dialogue with a style relative to what was discussed above. The hierarchy between le “maître” and Son Eminence is used to highlight the hierarchy that existed in society normally, yet the author also highlights that this will disappear for the celebration of the carnival. We see this demonstrated when the author mentions that the careme-prenant will leave Son Eminence, which is ultimately the goal of this celebration.The author also chooses to speak about food and wine because it’s a large part of the celebration in general. The two characters in the dialogue predict what will arrive in the near future with the careme-prenant and everything he will eat and drink. At the end of the dialogue there is a reference to “order”, which is a little ironic when thinking about the fact that the celebration is a time for disorder.
With all of the references discussed here, the author proves that the idea of hierarchy is a theme that underlies everything in the society of Mazarin, even when speaking about the Carnival. A conversation has to exist with “Son Eminence” to actually tell it to disappear, to put in effort for it to do so. The easiest way to demonstrate this is through dialogue, because there is humor but also because it is a way to show what happens in private between two people, or even a conversation with oneself. In my opinion, the author here makes a successful effort to talk about the society that exists around Carnival, and I believe that during his time he probably was perceived as successful as well.
[1] Olivier Jacquemond, La politique et le carnavalesque, Lignes (2013/2, n. 41)
[2] Goujard Philippe, A. Faure. Paris, Carême prenant. Du Carnaval à Paris au XIXe siècle, 1800-1914., Annales historiques de la Révolution française (1979/235, n.1, pp. 153-155)