The reflection of money in eighteenth-century French literature: A study of Lesage, Prevost, Marivaux, Voltaire, and Rousseau.
Item
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Title
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The reflection of money in eighteenth-century French literature: A study of Lesage, Prevost, Marivaux, Voltaire, and Rousseau.
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Identifier
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AAI9908374
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identifier
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9908374
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Creator
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Vasiliou, Jane Tucker.
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Contributor
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Adviser: Renee Waldinger
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Date
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1998
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Literature, Romance | Economics, History
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Abstract
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Money is a major component of all the major texts of the eighteenth century, and its depiction in both microeconomic and macroeconomic terms adds greatly to the literary quality and intellectual dynamism of the fictional and philosophical works. The study of money and finance also offers insight into the society and new perspectives on French culture and civilization. This dissertation studies the reflection of money in representative works of Alain Rene Lesage, L'abbe Prevost, Pierre Carlet de Chamblain de Marivaux, Voltaire, and Rousseau. The depiction of money, fluctuating social values towards it, and the contrasting semiotic values of money as demonstrated by these five authors furnish a prism through which the historical as well as economic events of the time may be viewed. Over the course of the century, money became the wedge which altered the balance of power, and this crucial change is mirrored in the literature of the time.;Lesage continued the seventeenth century traditional degradation of the financier with Turcaret, while Gil Blas offered a primer on both wealth accumulation and social climbing. Prevost created the title character of Manon Lescaut as a creature of both her economic time and circumstance, and she could only have existed during the implementation of the Law System. Marivaux upheld the traditional place of money as the province of the nobility, with the accumulation of wealth acceptably attributed to marriage and inheritance. Voltaire advocated a radical departure from traditional attitudes towards money, and his theory developed the dual necessity of a strong economy and tolerance as the foundation for a flourishing society. Rousseau's theory of wealth was revolutionary in its egalitarian goals. He depicted the ideal of enlightened self-interest in Julie ou la Nouvelle Heloise.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
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degree
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Ph.D.
