Lying as Dramatic Action in The Liar by Pierre Corneille

Extract

[...] Moreover, the denouement itself depends on the lie. The final revelation - the forced confession and the exposure of the deceptions - allows for a return to order. Thus, the dramatic action follows a clear logic: lie, complication, revelation. The lie is therefore the engine that drives the theatrical machine forward. Finally, Corneille does not just exploit lying to entertain. He makes it an object of reflection. Dorante lies for pleasure, for vanity, for the desire to shine in a society based on appearance and reputation. [...]

[...] Dorante's monologues are brilliant, full of wit, sometimes close to verbal jousting. The spectator laughs as much at the virtuosity of the speech as at its uselessness. Lying becomes thus an oratorical art, a verbal fireworks that illuminates the stage. However, reducing lying to a simple comedic function would be insufficient. In reality, it constitutes the organizing principle of the plot. The action progresses only because Dorante lies: without his inventions, there would be no misunderstandings, no romantic conflicts, no plot twists. [...]

[...] We will first see that lying indeed causes an abundant and varied comedy, before showing that it deeply organizes the plot, then analyzing how Corneille makes it a revealing dramatic principle of a moral and social reflection. Lying is first and foremost an obvious source of comedy. Dorante invents extravagant stories, particularly when he presents himself as a war hero or a triumphant lover. The exaggeration of his words, their unnecessary sophistication and their implausibility provoke a character comedy: Dorante is a professional liar, faithful to himself to the absurd. [...]

[...] Lying thus reveals the flaws of a world where appearance takes precedence over being. The character of Cliton, a clear-sighted and often moralizing valet, plays a crucial role: he highlights the absurdity and dangers of lying. Through him, Corneille introduces a critical distance. Laughter then becomes a tool for moral reflection. Thus, lying is both what makes us laugh and what puts human relationships in crisis. It reveals the fragility of social ties and the necessity, in the end, of returning to the truth to restore balance. [...]