The Political Thought of Paul Claudel

Thesis

Claudel's interest in political and social questions was reflected in almost every area of his writings, but it has not hitherto been the subject of a broad survey showing what his ideas were, how far they cohered together, how they evolved in response to changing circumstances,and how they reflected wider currents of opinion in France. This thesis is the first step towards a balanced overview. Since reliable contemporary evidence of; his ideas up to approximately 1905 is relatively scarce, the study concentrates primarily on his writings from 1905 to the time of his death in 1955, but takes account of earlier evidence where relevant. Reference is made not only to Claudel's published works but also to a large body of unpublished material, including correspondence with writers such as Frangois Mauriac and Georges Duhamel or with political figures, s such as Edouard Herriot and Charles de Gaulle.

The study is structured on the basis of broad chronological divisions. It gives parallel coverage of Claudel's views on French society and on international affairs during each of the major periods under discussion. In both of these areas his thinking is shown to have reflected a wealth of idiosyncratic contradictions. His political views manifested the complexity of a personality which could swing rapidly between savage intransigence and pragmatism, cynicism and near-utopian idealism. The labels often applied to Claudel during his lifetime - reactionary, traditionalist, conservative, authoritarian, jingoist - were all accurate. But there was also a side of Claudel which could accept the modern world, welcome change ,and be concerned by the need to find solutions to the social problems of his day. Equally ; his capacity for bellicism and patriotic bombast did not prevent him from developing increasingly fervent sympathy for the cause of European unity, international organisation in general,and a mystical ideal of the unification of mankind.

Authors: Flood, C

• DOI: 10.5287/ora-j1erq9gwg
• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford