The Use of Abuse: The Polemics of the Dreyfus Affair and Its Aftermath

by Richard Griffiths

Overview

In this book, which closely examines the techniques used by the polemists of the Dreyfus Affair, much is learned not only about the Mair itself, but also about the polemic of the age in which it was situated, and the interaction between writers and their public. The discourse within which people's thoughts were imprisoned is seen not merely to have reflected events, but to have created them, in an increasingly vicious circle whereby the language of popular abuse, incorporated into the written polemic of the Press, produced simple but distorted ideas which in turn were fed back into the people. The age's complete lack of concern for the libel laws led to particularly vivid examples of the art. We are shown how authors'shifts in vocabulary, and in stylistic techniques, unconsciously signal to us fundamental changes in their aims; and how, in the give-and-take of battle, words and concepts subtly changed their meaning, with certain abstract notions such as Truth and Justice becoming completely devalued.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367717186
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/31/2021
Series:	Berg French Studies
Pages:	222
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Preface xi

Part I Introductory 1

1 Polemic and the Affair 3

The Issues behind the Polemic 7

Polemic and the Affair - A Chronology 12

Conclusion 15

Truth and Justice 17

The Devaluation 20

The Philosophical Debate 24

Weapons of Attack 28

Cartoons and Visual Polemic 30

The Aftermath 35

Part II Methods 39

3 Plot Myths and Assertions of Certainty 41

Language and Imagery 42

Formulae of Certainty 46

A Further Aspect of the 'Plot' Myth: The 'Syndicat de Trahison' 49

4 Formulae of Popular Polemic 53

Metonymy 53

Dirt and Cleansing 59

Repetition and 'Homeric' Epithets in Personal Abuse 64

Word Formulations: The Suffix '-ard' 67

Other Pejorative Formations and Phrases 71

'L'Armée de Condé' and Other War-cries 74

Conclusion 77

5 Techniques of Irony 80

Mockery of the Slogans of the Affair 81

Gohier and 'le parti de l'étranger' 85

'La Revanche' 88

Rochefort and 'le sabre et le goupillon' 90

6 Religious Imagery: The Power of Catholic Discourse 96

7 Attitudes to Personal Abuse 102

Violence and Vileness 103

A Libel: Zola the Thief's Son 105

A Libel: Drumont the Police Spy 106

A Libel: Clemenceau the British Agent 108

Private and Public Attitudes: The Case of Barrès 113

Part III Three Individuals 119

8 Zola 121

The Affair: The Three Figaro Articles 123

'Lettre à la jeunesse' 131

'Lettre à la France' 133

'J'accuse' 135

The Aftermath 139

9 Léon Bloy and the Clichés of the Affair 142

The Affair as Sign 142

Scatology and Eschatoiogy 145

The Unknown Visitor 149

Conclusion 152

10 Péguy's Attacks on Jaurès 154

Litanies and Repetition 155

The Natural Tone, and Complicity with the Reader 156

The Attacks on Jaurès: 'Notre jeunesse' (1910) 162

The Attacks on Jaurès: 'L'Argent' and 'L'Argent suite' (1913) 167

Conclusion 169

Conclusion 171

Appendix I A Short Chronology of the Affair 177

Appendix II Writers and Artists of the Affair 182

Select Bibliography 193

Index 201