The confidant (/ˈkɒnfɪdænt/ or /ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/; feminine: confidante, same pronunciation) is a character in a story whom a protagonist confides in and trusts. Confidants may be other principal characters, characters who command trust by virtue of their position such as doctors or other authority figures, or anonymous confidants with no separate role in the narrative.[1]
The confidant is a type of secondary character in the story, often a friend or authority figure,[1] whose role is to listen to the protagonist's secrets, examine their character, and advise them on their actions. Rather than simply acting as a passive listener for the protagonist's monologues, the confidant may themselves act to move the story forward, or serve to guide and represent the reactions of the audience.[2]
Historyedit
The presence of the confidant in Western literature may be traced back to Greek drama and the work of Euripides.[3] The characters of Agamemnon in Hecuba and Pylades in Orestes serve as confidants, acting as both counsellors for the protagonists and expositors of their character.[4] The role of the confidant assumed particular significance in 17th-century French drama, however, coming to prominence in the plays of Jean Racine and Pierre Corneille. In Racine and Corneille, the confidant became a more complex and partial character[5]—though the abbé d'Aubignac complained that Corneille's use of the confidant was "without grace".[6]Shakespeare scholar Francis Schoff argued that in Hamlet, Horatio serves "even more than the Racinian confidant [as] a mere reporter of events and auditor for the protagonist".[7]
Interpreters such as Georg Lukács have remarked that the role of the confidant has diminished in modern literature, pointing to "the significant absence of the confidant(e) in the isolated situations in which the protagonists of the new drama find themselves", and the eclipse of the relationship of trust that exists between a hero and a confidant by a characteristically modern sense of dislocation and absence.[8]
Kennedy, Andrew K. (1983). Dramatic Dialogue: The Duologue of Personal Encounter. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lawton, H. W. (1943). "The Confidant in and before French Classical Tragedy". The Modern Language Review. 38 (1): 18–31. doi:10.2307/3717370. JSTOR 3717370.
Patrice, Pavis (1998). "Confidant". Dictionary of the Theatre: Terms, Concepts, and Analysis. Toronto, Buffalo, and London: University of Toronto Press.
Scherer, Jacques (2014). La dramaturgie classique (2nd ed.). Paris: Armand Colin.
Schoff, Francis G. (1956). "Horatio: A Shakespearian Confidant". Shakespeare Quarterly. 7 (1): 53–57. doi:10.2307/2866115. JSTOR 2866115.
Worth-Stylianou, Valérie (1992). "La querelle du confident et la structure dramaturgique des premières pièces de Racine". Littératures Classiques (in French). 16: 229–46. doi:10.3406/licla.1992.947.
Worth-Stylianou, Valérie (1999). Confidential Strategies: The Evolving Role of the Confident in French Tragic Drama (1635-1677). Geneva: Librairie Droz.
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of confidant at Wiktionary
May 02, 2024
confidant, confused, with, confident, other, uses, disambiguation, confidant, ɑː, feminine, confidante, same, pronunciation, character, story, whom, protagonist, confides, trusts, other, principal, characters, characters, command, trust, virtue, their, positio. Not to be confused with confident For other uses see Confidant disambiguation The confidant ˈ k ɒ n f ɪ d ae n t or ˌ k ɒ n f ɪ ˈ d ɑː n t feminine confidante same pronunciation is a character in a story whom a protagonist confides in and trusts Confidants may be other principal characters characters who command trust by virtue of their position such as doctors or other authority figures or anonymous confidants with no separate role in the narrative 1 Contents 1 Role 2 History 3 References 3 1 Sources 4 External linksRole editThe confidant is a type of secondary character in the story often a friend or authority figure 1 whose role is to listen to the protagonist s secrets examine their character and advise them on their actions Rather than simply acting as a passive listener for the protagonist s monologues the confidant may themselves act to move the story forward or serve to guide and represent the reactions of the audience 2 History editThe presence of the confidant in Western literature may be traced back to Greek drama and the work of Euripides 3 The characters of Agamemnon in Hecuba and Pylades in Orestes serve as confidants acting as both counsellors for the protagonists and expositors of their character 4 The role of the confidant assumed particular significance in 17th century French drama however coming to prominence in the plays of Jean Racine and Pierre Corneille In Racine and Corneille the confidant became a more complex and partial character 5 though the abbe d Aubignac complained that Corneille s use of the confidant was without grace 6 Shakespeare scholar Francis Schoff argued that in Hamlet Horatio serves even more than the Racinian confidant as a mere reporter of events and auditor for the protagonist 7 Interpreters such as Georg Lukacs have remarked that the role of the confidant has diminished in modern literature pointing to the significant absence of the confidant e in the isolated situations in which the protagonists of the new drama find themselves and the eclipse of the relationship of trust that exists between a hero and a confidant by a characteristically modern sense of dislocation and absence 8 References edit a b Lawton 1943 p 19 Patrice 1998 pp 74 75 Worth Stylianou 1999 p 2 Lawton 1943 p 20 Lawton 1943 p 25 Worth Stylianou 1992 p 229 Schoff 1956 p 53 Kennedy 1983 p 67 Sources edit Kennedy Andrew K 1983 Dramatic Dialogue The Duologue of Personal Encounter Cambridge Cambridge University Press Lawton H W 1943 The Confidant in and before French Classical Tragedy The Modern Language Review 38 1 18 31 doi 10 2307 3717370 JSTOR 3717370 Patrice Pavis 1998 Confidant Dictionary of the Theatre Terms Concepts and Analysis Toronto Buffalo and London University of Toronto Press Scherer Jacques 2014 La dramaturgie classique 2nd ed Paris Armand Colin Schoff Francis G 1956 Horatio A Shakespearian Confidant Shakespeare Quarterly 7 1 53 57 doi 10 2307 2866115 JSTOR 2866115 Worth Stylianou Valerie 1992 La querelle du confident et la structure dramaturgique des premieres pieces de Racine Litteratures Classiques in French 16 229 46 doi 10 3406 licla 1992 947 Worth Stylianou Valerie 1999 Confidential Strategies The Evolving Role of the Confident in French Tragic Drama 1635 1677 Geneva Librairie Droz External links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of confidant at Wiktionary Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Confidant amp oldid 1216691866, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
