From “Text-Book” to “Text-Life”: Racine in “Fils” (“Son / Threads”) by Serge Doubrovsky and “Titus Did not Love Berenice” by Nathalie Azoulai

Abstract

The article analyzes Racine’s place in two French works: the autofiction “Son/ Threads” (“Fils”) (1977) by Serge Doubrovsky (1928–2017) and the novel “Titus did nоt love Berenice” (“Titus n’aimait pas Bérénice”) (2015) by Nathalie Azoulai (b. 1966). To study the role of Racine’s tragedies, we turn to the technique of mise en abyme, widely and variedly used by both authors. Recursion appears at the level of multiple quotations and homonymy (Azoulai’s novel characters are named after Racine’s “Berenice” characters). As a result, the micro-story (Racine) turns into a macro-story, reflecting the life problems of modern characters and helping them to understand themselves. That leads to autopoiesis — the ability to self-reproduce, to “self-construct.” Both characters change due to their deep immersion in reading: “Text- Book” becomes “Text-Life.” The analysis of specific features of Racine’s dramaturgy gives the reason why his tragedies are capable of having such a deep existential impact. Fictional immersion, according to J.-M. Schaeffer has a modeling function, offering a scenario of actions that can be productively used in real life.

Keywords

• jean racine
• sege doubrovsky
• nathalie azoulai
• mise en abyme
• autopoiesis
• cognitive science.