Fénelon, Telemachus, monarch, Sesostris, Bocchoris, Louis XIV, educational novel, good governance, political critique, Duke of Burgundy
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Abstract
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Abstract
Fénelon's educational novel critiques the power of King Louis XIV through the contrast between the good monarch Sesostris and the bad monarch Bocchoris, providing guidance for the future king.
Contents
The good exercise of royalty
Sesostris, the anti-Machiavel
A triumphant sovereign
The figure of the bad monarch
The destruction of the father's heritage
The projection into the future of the accession to the throne of the Duke of Burgundy
The good exercise of royalty
Sesostris, the anti-Machiavel
A triumphant sovereign
The figure of the bad monarch
The destruction of the father's heritage
The projection into the future of the accession to the throne of the Duke of Burgundy
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Extract
[...] Sesostris is described as an anti-Machiavelli Sesostris has a great capacity for listening in a deeply anti-Machiavellian sense. In fact, whereas the Machiavellian leader will not hesitate to listen only to better manipulate, Sesostris, on the other hand, listens at certain hours set' to anyone, and notably his subjects who had either complaints to make to him or advice to give him'. In this sense, he accepted both good and bad complaints solely in order to promote the quality of life of his country. [...]
[...] He will thus build what he considers to be a good political regime at the time of the monarchy. To do this, throughout his story, he will describe several monarchic regimes through the figure of different kings who each have their own characteristics and way of governing. They are mostly shown in a virtuous way since they pay particular attention to the well-being of the people, as well as the economic prosperity of the country, justifying the fact that the sovereign is glorified. [...]
[...] Could it be because Fénelon was targeting Louis XIV as the bad monarch? We have no reason to affirm this. However, one could analyze this excerpt as a situation inverted compared to reality. In fact, here, the preceding king is a king loved by all, while the successor only seeks his personal pleasure and despises his subjects, foreigners, and science. One could then imagine that the educational scope of this narrative aims to show the good example of a king and the bad example of a successor, capable of ruining the legacy of the first. [...]
[...] The Adventures of Telemachus, Book II, Excerpt - Fénelon (1699) - To what extent does this excerpt possibly reveal a sharp critique of the power of Louis XIV ? "He listened every day, at certain set hours, to all those of his subjects who had either complaints to make or advice to give. He neither despised nor rejected anyone, and did not believe himself to be king merely to do good to all his subjects, whom he loved as his children. [...]
[...] However, this ideal is not blind, as he tries to instill it in Telemachus as the most accomplished way of governing: it allows power to last even longer than the tyrant would, and this through the acceptance that the subjects show to their king. A triumphant sovereign Fénelon also ceaselessly emphasizes to Telemachus the importance of always appearing glorious and triumphant in the eyes of the subjects. It is in this sense that he presents a foreign policy that is the most accomplished. In fact, Sesostris 'received them with kindness'. This translates here the openness that the king of Egypt shows since he refused any xenophobia against a person who is not part of his kingdom. [...]
