Faire rire pour faire réfléchir ? Portraits comiques du vice dans les Caractères de Théophraste

Abstract

This article analyzes how comic are Theophrastus’ vicious characters from a double background: on the one hand, the Aristotelian analysis of the comic and what can be reconstructed of Theophrastus’ research on laughter and jokes, on the other hand, the way Theophrastus extends Aristotle’s ethical theory by elaborating mainly on the vices that impinge on social life. The peculiar style of these portraits, proceeding by accumulating actions or words without any psychological analysis, arouses laughter by making us aware of the moral and social norms transgressed by these antisocial behaviors.

Keywords

• Characters
• Theophrastus
• comedy
• ridicule
• ethics
• Aristotle