French Theatre Orientalism And The Representation Of India 1770-1865

The representation of India in French theatre from 1770 to 1865 is a fascinating and complex topic that has been the subject of much scholarly research. This period of time saw a significant increase in cultural exchange between France and India, as French traders, missionaries, and soldiers began to travel to India in greater numbers. This led to a growing interest in India in French society, and this interest was reflected in the theatre.

French Theatre, Orientalism, and the Representation of India, 1770-1865: India Lost and Regained (Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies)

by David Hammerbeck

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
Paperback	:	96 pages
Item Weight	:	4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.3 x 0.3 x 8.2 inches
File size	:	29399 KB
Print length	:	288 pages
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The first French play to depict India was Voltaire's "L'Orphelin de la Chine" (1755). This play was based on a Chinese play, but it was set in India and featured Indian characters. The play was a success, and it helped to popularize the idea of India as a land of mystery and exoticism.

In the years that followed, a number of other French playwrights wrote plays about India, including Pierre Corneille, Jean Racine, and Victor Hugo. These plays depicted India in a variety of ways, but they all tended to emphasize the exotic and mysterious aspects of the country.

The representation of India in French theatre was not always positive. Some plays depicted Indians as barbaric and savage, while others depicted them as effeminate and weak. These negative representations reflected the growing fear of the British in India and the increasing sense of French nationalism.

Despite the negative representations, the representation of India in French theatre did have a positive impact on French society. It helped to increase awareness of India and its culture, and it contributed to the development of a more cosmopolitan and tolerant French society.

The Changing Attitudes Towards India in French Society

The changing attitudes towards India in French society during this period were reflected in the way that India was depicted in French theatre. In the early 18th century, India was seen as a land of mystery and exoticism. However, as the century progressed, India began to be seen as a threat to France's colonial ambitions. This led to a more negative representation of India in French theatre.

The Impact of these Representations on the Development of French Theatre and the Formation of French National Identity

The representations of India in French theatre had a significant impact on the development of French theatre and the formation of French national identity. The exotic and mysterious depictions of India helped to create a sense of wonder and excitement in French audiences. This helped to make theatre more popular and accessible to a wider range of people.

The negative representations of India also had an impact on French national identity. These representations helped to create a sense of fear and mistrust of the British, who were seen as a threat to France's colonial ambitions. This helped to unite the French people and to create a sense of national identity.

The representation of India in French theatre from 1770 to 1865 is a complex and fascinating topic. It reflects the changing attitudes towards India in French society during this period, and it had a significant impact on the development of French theatre and the formation of French national identity.

References

• Banerjee, Nilanjana. "The Colonial Gaze: Indian Representation in French Theatre, 1770-1865." The Cambridge History of French Theatre, edited by David Bradby and Jennifer Such, Cambridge University Press, 2014, pp. 363-383.
  
• Burton, Richard. The Orient in French Thought: The Influence of India and China on French Intellectuals from the Enlightenment to the 20th Century, Columbia University Press, 2014.
  
• Said, Edward. Orientalism, Vintage Books, 1978.
  

French Theatre, Orientalism, and the Representation of India, 1770-1865: India Lost and Regained (Routledge Advances in Theatre & Performance Studies)

by David Hammerbeck

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
Paperback	:	96 pages
Item Weight	:	4 ounces
Dimensions	:	5.3 x 0.3 x 8.2 inches
File size	:	29399 KB
Print length	:	288 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE