On Racine's the Litigants

13 Pages Posted: 31 Dec 2014

See all articles by Claude Witz

Claude Witz

Saarland University

Martin Hlawon

Saarland University

Date Written: December 29, 2014

Abstract

English Abstract: French tragedian Jean Racine’s only comedy The Litigants (1668) is a theatrical caricature of the people of the law and of legal procedure at the time when Louis XIV’s councillor Colbert was undertaking important reforms of the judicial system. Litigious claimants, a maniac judge, a masochistic bailiff and loquacious lawyers all concur in the frantic display of a justice drowned in formalities and the pursuit of individual interests. The study of this play reminds us of the importance of constant efforts to reduce the complexity of legal procedure.

Spanish Abstract: Los litigantes (1668), la única comedia del dramaturgo francés Jean Racine, es una caricatura teatral del mundo del derecho y el procedimiento legal de la época en la que Colbert, canciller de Luis XIV, impulsó importantes reformas del sistema judicial. Demandantes litigiosos, un juez maníaco, un agente judicial masoquista y abogados locuaces coinciden en una exhibición frenética en la que la justicia se muestra ahogada en formalidades y la búsqueda de intereses individuales. El estudio de esta obra nos recuerda la importancia de los esfuerzos constantes para reducir la complejidad del procedimiento legal.

Keywords: Plaideurs, The Litigants, Jean Racine, Satire, Farce, Plaideurs, Los litigantes, Jean Racine, sátira, comedia

Suggested Citation

Witz, Claude and Hlawon, Martin, On Racine's the Litigants (December 29, 2014). Oñati Socio-Legal Series, Vol. 4, No. 6, 2014, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2543495

Claude Witz (Contact Author)

Saarland University ( email )

Stadtwald
Saarbrucken, Saarland D-66123
Germany

Martin Hlawon

Saarland University ( email )

Stadtwald
Saarbrucken, Saarland D-66123
Germany

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