Marie-Joseph Chénier and the Subversion of Myth and Tradition

Marie-Joseph Chénier (1764-1811), who has been styled "Poet of the Revolution" but largely or consistently ignored by critics, changed genre and direction with the coming of a] new century. Writing contes, he systematically plays upon and turns against traditions of classical myth, folk tale, and many techniques used by Voltaire and Molière. His traditional classical alexandrines convey such non-traditional themes as revolution and women's rights. We believe that these contes constitute an early expression of Romanticism, especially in the role played by nature, which he uses to illustrate or compensate for the human condition. (JLB/ERF)