The theatre of Madame de Maintenon: An instrument for teaching submission or a place of social confrontation?

Abstract

Conversations and Proverbes dramatiques are texts written by Madame de Maintenon with the thought of raising the girls at Saint-Cyr (moral and social education). Conversations resemble a role-playing game, while Proverbes dramatiques are short plays made up of only a few scenes. After a brief presentation of both works, I analyse the way the author presented womensʼ duty of submission and the role of plays in shaping obedient wives and mothers. Theatre is an effective means of communication of the author’s convictions, but dialogues presenting other views — even if only to argue against them — the varied nature of the plays and comical elements made the theatre of Madame de Maintenon a tool for teaching both submission and freedom.