Diderot et le théâtre intérieur

Abstract

Lucette Perol : Diderot' s Interior Theatre. In his own time, Diderot was seen as a playwright because of two plays that are no longer staged, even if the theoretical texts accompanying them are still valid. The image we now have of his work, with its variety, range and power, is very different ; yet many of Diderot's works have been staged with succeess even though they were not written with that aim. It is as if, from the moment he gave up any thought of publishing during his lifetime his most innovative thought, the theatre he had abandoned impregnated all his work, as seen in their division, the creation and staging of characters, the dialogues and role of the spectator. This is not only true of his ever more complex novels, but also of non-narrative genres, such as art criticism or philosophical works, which he acts to himself and encourages his readers to visualise in their own internal theatres. This explains part of the pleasure in reading Diderot and the effectiveness of his message.