george sand-第37节
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There may be a slight exaggeration in the words 〃never in the memory of man；〃 but the success was really great。 _Claudie_ is still given； and I remember seeing Paul Mounet interpret the part of Remy admirably at the Odeon Theatre。 As to the _Mariage de Victorine_； it figures every year on the programme of the Conservatoire competitions。 It is the typical piece for would…be _ingenues。_
_Francois le Champi； Claudie_ and the _Mariage de Victorine_ may be considered as the series representing George Sand's dramatic writings。 These pieces were all her own； and； in her own opinion； that was their principal merit。 The dramatic author is frequently obliged to accept the collaboration of persons who know nothing of literature。
〃Your characters say this；〃 observes the manager； it is all very well； but； believe me； it will be better for him to say just the opposite。 The piece will run at least sixty nights longer。〃 There was a manager at the Gymnase Theatre in those days named Montigny。 He was a very clever manager； and knew exactly what the characters ought to say for making the piece run。 George Sand complained of his mania for changing every play； and she added： 〃Every piece that I did not change； such； for instance； as _Champi_； _Claudie_； _Victorine； Le Demon du foyer_ and _Le Pressoir_； was a success； whilst all the others were either failures or they had a very short run。〃＇48＇
＇48＇ _Correspondance：_ To Maurice Sand； February 24； 1855。
It was in these pieces that George Sand carried out her own idea of what was required for the theatre。 Her idea was very simple。 She gives it in two or three words： 〃I like pieces that make me cry。〃 She adds： 〃I like drama better than comedy； and； like a woman； I must be infatuated by one of the characters。〃 This character is the congenial one。 The public is with him always and trembles for him； and the trembling is all the more agreeable； because the public knows perfectly well that all will end well for this character。 It can even go as far as weeping the traditional six tears； as Madame de Sevigne did for Andromaque。 Tears at the theatre are all the sweeter； because they are all in vain。 When； in a play； we have a congenial character who is there from the beginning to the end； the play is a success。 Let us take _Cyraino de Bergerac_； for instance； which is one of the greatest successes in the history of the theatre。
Francois le Champi is eminently a congenial character； for he is a man who always sets wrong things right。 We are such believers in justice and in the interference of Providence。 When good； straightforward people are persecuted by fate； we always expect to see a man appear upon the scene who will be the champion of innocence； who will put evil…doers to rights； and find the proper thing to do and say in every circumstance。
Francois appears at the house of Madeleine Blanchet； who is a widow and very sad and ill。 He takes her part and defends her from the results of La Severe's intrigues。 He is hard on the latter； and he disdains another woman； Mariette； but both La Severe and Mariette love him； so true is it that women have a weakness for conquerors。 Francois only cares for Madeleine； though。 On the stage； we like a man to be adored by all women； as this seems to us a guarantee that he will only care for one of them。
〃Champi〃 is a word peculiar to a certain district； meaning 〃natural son。〃 Dumas _fils_ wrote a play entitled _Le Fils naturel_。 The hero is also a superior man； who plays the part of Providence to the family which has refused to recognize him。
In _Claudie_； as in _Francois le Champi_； the rural setting is one of the great charms of the play。 The first act is one of the most picturesque scenes on the stage。 It takes place in a farmyard； the day when the reapers have finished their task； which is just as awe…inspiring as that of the sowers。 A cart； drawn by oxen； enters the yard； bringing a sheaf all adorned with ribbons and flowers。 The oldest of the labourers； Pere Remy； addresses a fine couplet to the sheaf of corn which has cost so much labour； but which is destined to keep life in them all。 Claudie is one of those young peasant girls； whom we met with in the novel entitled _Jeanne_。 She had been unfortunate； but Jeanne； although virtuous and pure herself； did not despise her； for in the country there is great latitude in certain matters。 This is just the plain story； but on the stage everything becomes more dramatic and is treated in a more detailed and solemn fashion。 Claudie's misfortune causes her to become a sort of personage apart； and it raises her very high in her own esteem。
〃I am not afraid of anything that can be said about me；〃 observes Claudie； 〃for； on knowing the truth； kind…hearted； upright people will acknowledge that I do not deserve to be insulted。〃 Her old grandfather； Remy； has completely absolved her。
〃You have repented and suffered enough； and you have worked and wept and expiated enough； too； my poor Claudie；〃 he says。 Through all this she has become worthy to make an excellent marriage。 It is a case of that special moral code by which； after free love； the fault must be recompensed。
Claudie is later on the Jeannine of the _Idees de Madame Aubray_； the Denise of Alexandre Dumas。 She is the unmarried mother； whose misfortunes have not crushed her pride； who； after being outraged； has a right now to a double share of respect。 The first good young man is called upon to accept her past life； for there is a law of solidarity in the world。 The human species is divided into two categories； the one is always busy doing harm； and the other is naturally obliged to give itself up to making good the harm done。
_The Mariage de Victorine_ belongs to a well…known kind of literary exercise； which was formerly very much in honour in the colleges。 This consists in taking a celebrated work at the place where the author has left it and in imagining the 〃sequel。〃 For instance； after the _Cid_； there would be the marriage of Rodrigue and Chimene for us。 As a continuation of _L'Ecole des Femmes_； there is the result of the marriage of the young Horace with the tiresome little Agnes。 Corneille gave a sequel to the _Menteur_ himself。 Fabre d'Eglantine wrote the sequel to _Le Misanthrope_； and called it _Le Philinte de Moliere_。 George Sand gives us here the sequel of Sedaine's _chef…d'oeuvre_ （that is； a _chef…d'oeuvre_ for Sedaine）； _Le Philosophe sans le savor。_
In _Le Philosophe sans le savoir_ Monsieur Vanderke is a nobleman； who has become a merchant in order to be in accordance with the ideas of the times。 He is a Frenchman； but he has taken a Dutch name out of snobbishness。 He has a clerk or a confidential servant named Antoine。 Victorine is Antoine's daughter。 Vanderke's son is to fight a duel； and from Victorine's emotion； whilst awaiting the result of this duel； it is easy to see that she is in love with this young man。 George Sand's play turns on the question of what is to be done when the day comes for Victorine to marry。 An excellent husband is found for her； a certain Fulgence； one of Monsieur Vanderke's clerks。 He belongs to her own class； and this is considered one of the indispensable conditions for happiness in marriage。 He loves her； so that everything seems to favour Victorine。 We are delighted； and she； too； seems to be in good spirits； but； all the time that she is receiving congratulations and presents； we begin to see that she has some great trouble。
〃Silk and pearls！〃 she exclaims； 〃oh； how heavy they are； but I am sure that they are very fine。 Lace； too； and silver； oh； such a quantity of silver。 How rich and fine and happy I shall be。 And then Fulgence is so fond of me。〃 （She gets sadder and sadder。） 〃And father is so pleased。 How strange。 I feel stifled。〃 （She sits down in Antoinc's chair。） 〃Is this joy？ 。 。 。 I feel 。 。 。 Ah； it hurts to be as happy as this。 。 。 。〃 She bursts into tears。 This suppressed emotion to which she finally gives vent； and this forced smile which ends in sobs are very effective on the stage。 The question is； how can Victorine's tears be dried？ She wants to marry young Vanderke； the son of her father's employer； instead of the clerk。 The only thing is； then； to arrange this marriage。
〃Is it a crime； then； for my brother to love Victorine？〃 asks Sophie； 〃and is it mad of me to think that you will give your consent？〃
〃My dear Sophie；〃 replies Monsieur Vanderke； 〃there are no unequal marriages in the sight of God。 A servitor like Antoine is a friend； and I have always brought you up to consider Victorine as your companion and equal。〃
This is the way the father of the family speaks。 Personally； I consider him rather imprudent。
As this play is already a sequel to another one； I do not wish to propose a sequel to _Le Mariage de Victorine_； but I cannot help wondering what will happen when Vanderke's son finds himself the son…in…law of an old servant…man； and also what will occur if he should take his wife to call on some of his sister's friends。 It seems to me that he would then find out he had； made a mistake。 Among the various personages； only one appears to me quite worthy of interest； and that is poor
