English Language and Literature ETDs

Publication Date

4-19-1967

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to present a historical and critical introduction to Antonin Artaud’s play Les Cenci (1935). The first part of the paper will consist, therefore, of a comparative study of four versions of the story of Beatrice Cenci (1577-1599) and her family. One is the historical account as related by John Addington Symonds in his book Renaissance in Italy. The second is the legendary account as it emerges from Stendhal’s translation from an old Italian chronicle dated, according to Stendhal, September 14, 1499 – three days after Beatrice’s execution. The third is Percy Bysshe Shelley’s tragedy The Cenci, also based on an ancient Italian manuscript “copied from the archives of the Cenci Palace.” Finally, the fourth is Artaud’s Les Cenci, based on the translation by Stendhal and the play by Shelley. The somewhat different reasons which Stendhal, Shelley, and Artaud had for their interest in the story of Beatrice Cenci will also be discussed.

Degree Name

English

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

English

First Committee Member (Chair)

Willis Dana Jacobs

Second Committee Member

Illegible

Third Committee Member

Illegible

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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