Les Personnages de femmes dans huit pièces de Musset

The central themes of the plays studied in this article are love and marriage. Women, therefore, play the principal roles. These feminine characters are complex, independent, and often determine the development of the plot, Musset also treats the themes of women's education and their position in society. He depicts accurately all types of women; however, his greatest art is in illustrating the naiveté, purity, and intelligence of the young "amoureuse." He also skillfully portrays the complex natures of the more mature, married women. The naturalness and complexity of these female characters are proof of the finesse and perspicacity of Musset in portraying women. (In French) (SLF)