Le pouvoir absolutiste face aux manières conviviales des cercles au XVIIe siècle

Abstract

The absolutist power in front of the convivial manners of the Cercles during the 17th Century. Claudine Haroche [67-751 In 1634, the Cardinal Richelieu interrupts the meetings of the Conrart circle and declares this clique a compagnie, thus transforming it into a body subject to State authority, in this case, the French Academy. The analysis of the passage from a private sociability (relatively informal) to an institutionalised and academic sociability, enables the distinction of two conceptions of 'ways of behaving' in society during the 17th Century. First, the conception of the absolute Monarchy which strives to establish (through court rituals and rules of etiquette, in particular) a hierarchy of relationships, to organize and control meetings and subject matters in order to subdue and dominate. The second conception, which starts appearing in the circles, encourages an agreeable, civil, relatively free and egalitarian manner as far as subject matters and attitudes are concerned.