The Effects of Dramatic Fiction in a Catalan Baroque Re-Creation of Corneille’s L’Illusion comique

Abstract

Corneille’s L’Illusion comique, published in 1639, is the basis of the mixture of genres that constitutes Lo desengany, poema dramàtic, written between 1645 and 1652 by the poet and dramatist Francesc Fontanella. While clearly inspired by Corneille’s work, the Catalan text differs substantially in the function it assigns to fiction and theatrical representation. The aim of this article will be to shed light not only on the points of connection between L’Illusion comique and Lo desengany (literally: disillusionment), but also – perhaps more importantly – on the differences between the concept of fiction and the functions assigned to this concept in the two works.