French Enlightenment Literature

What was the French Enlightenment?

French Society and Politics in the Eighteenth Century

The Rise of the Novel

Abbé Prévost’s ‘Manon Lescaut’: The Author and Historical Context

Abbé Prévost’s ‘Manon Lescaut’: Class and Gender

Abbé Prévost’s ‘Manon Lescaut’: Female Sexuality and the Female Voice

Abbé Prévost’s ‘Manon Lescaut’: A Convenient Ending?

Women Novelists in the Enlightenment

Revolution and Theatre

Beaumarchais’ Figaro Plays: The Author and Historical Context

‘Le Barbier de Seville’: Class and Gender

‘Le Barbier de Seville’: Deception and Humour

‘Le Mariage de Figaro’: Class and Solidarity

‘Le Mariage de Figaro’: Gender Roles and Female Empowerment

‘Le Mariage de Figaro’: Law and Justice

‘La Mère Coupable’: A Conservative End

Enlightenment Philosophy: A Study of Materialism

Diderot’s Le Rêve de D’Alembert

La Mettrie’s Radical Materialism

The End of Enlightenment