Mal du siècle (French:[maldysjɛkl], "sickness of the century") is a term used to refer to the ennui, disillusionment, and melancholy experienced by primarily young adults of Europe's early 19th century, when speaking in terms of the rising Romantic movement. François-René de Chateaubriand's protagonist René characterizes the Romantic ennui that would become a benchmark of the Romantic esthetic in the first half of the century:
René is a young man who was suffering from the moral malady known as "le mal du siècle". This was an "état d'âme"[note 1] that was not uncommon during the first half of the nineteenth century, and that was often copied and idealized in literature. It was largely boredom. Other manifestations were: melancholy of an aristocratic type, precocious apathy, discouragement without cause, distaste for living. The will seemed paralyzed by the contemplation of life's struggle. Faith and a sense of duty were alike absent. Man was "possédé, tourmenté par le démon de son cœur."[note 2] Morbid sadness was mistaken for the suffering of a proud and superior mind. There was in it all a certain "bonheur d'être triste"[note 3] which attracted. This pessimistic state was analyzed in René with great subtlety and penetration. The hero was made a most original and living type, a type that was repeated in the Childe Harold and Manfred of Byron, and even, in some of its manifestations, in the Hernani of Victor Hugo. In the opinion of Chateaubriand, René was his masterpiece. Later judgments regarding it are not unanimous, but many authoritative French critics see in it one of the masterpieces of their literature.[1]
While Chateaubriand was the first to "diagnose" this "illness", it is Alfred de Musset who further popularized the notion of a "mal du siècle" in his La Confession d'un enfant du siècle (Confession of a Child of the Century).[2] Musset notably attributed the malady to the loss of Napoleon Bonaparte, the French nation's modern father figure:
Voilà dans quel chaos il fallut choisir alors; voilà ce qui se présentait à des enfants pleins de force et d'audace, fils de l'empire et petits-fils de la révolution. [...] l'esprit du siècle, ange du crépuscule, qui n'est ni la nuit, ni le jour.[3]
Lo and behold in what chaos, then, one must choose; behold the choice that is given to children full of strength and audacity, sons of the Empire and grandsons of the Revolution. [...] the spirit of the century, angel of dusk, that which is neither night nor day.
siècle, french, sjɛkl, sickness, century, term, used, refer, ennui, disillusionment, melancholy, experienced, primarily, young, adults, europe, early, 19th, century, when, speaking, terms, rising, romantic, movement, françois, rené, chateaubriand, protagonist,. Mal du siecle French mal dy sjɛkl sickness of the century is a term used to refer to the ennui disillusionment and melancholy experienced by primarily young adults of Europe s early 19th century when speaking in terms of the rising Romantic movement Francois Rene de Chateaubriand s protagonist Rene characterizes the Romantic ennui that would become a benchmark of the Romantic esthetic in the first half of the century Edgar Degas Melancholy c 1874 Akseli Gallen Kallela painting Symposium made in 1894 From left Akseli Gallen Kallela Oskar Merikanto Robert Kajanus and Jean Sibelius Rene is a young man who was suffering from the moral malady known as le mal du siecle This was an etat d ame note 1 that was not uncommon during the first half of the nineteenth century and that was often copied and idealized in literature It was largely boredom Other manifestations were melancholy of an aristocratic type precocious apathy discouragement without cause distaste for living The will seemed paralyzed by the contemplation of life s struggle Faith and a sense of duty were alike absent Man was possede tourmente par le demon de son cœur note 2 Morbid sadness was mistaken for the suffering of a proud and superior mind There was in it all a certain bonheur d etre triste note 3 which attracted This pessimistic state was analyzed in Rene with great subtlety and penetration The hero was made a most original and living type a type that was repeated in the Childe Harold and Manfred of Byron and even in some of its manifestations in the Hernani of Victor Hugo In the opinion of Chateaubriand Rene was his masterpiece Later judgments regarding it are not unanimous but many authoritative French critics see in it one of the masterpieces of their literature 1 While Chateaubriand was the first to diagnose this illness it is Alfred de Musset who further popularized the notion of a mal du siecle in his La Confession d un enfant du siecle Confession of a Child of the Century 2 Musset notably attributed the malady to the loss of Napoleon Bonaparte the French nation s modern father figure Voila dans quel chaos il fallut choisir alors voila ce qui se presentait a des enfants pleins de force et d audace fils de l empire et petits fils de la revolution l esprit du siecle ange du crepuscule qui n est ni la nuit ni le jour 3 Lo and behold in what chaos then one must choose behold the choice that is given to children full of strength and audacity sons of the Empire and grandsons of the Revolution the spirit of the century angel of dusk that which is neither night nor day Contents 1 See also 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksSee also editFin de siecle WeltschmerzNotes edit State of the soul Possessed tormented by the demon of his heart Happiness at being sadReferences edit Chateaubriand Francois Rene Atala and Rene Trans Benjamin Lester Bowen Scott Foresman and Company 1901 Hoog Armand and Brombert Beth Who Invented the Mal du Siecle Yale French Studies No 13 Romanticism Revisited 1954 pp 42 51 Musset Alfred de La Confession d un enfant du siecle Paris Garnier Flammarion 1993 p 31External links editAtala and Rene Works by Chateaubriand at Project Gutenberg Works by Alfred de Musset at Project Gutenberg Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mal du siecle amp oldid 1176452238, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
