The Legacy of History (III)

[montagnarde1793]

*sigh*

The Sphinx

 

            Like monsters of Antiquity, Robespierre was the thus constructed as a composite, mythical beast. For Nodier, he was a predator, a hyena with the tawny eyes of a bird of prey; for Taine, a rabid tiger; but for all, indeed (and Michelet would use the word freely) a sphinx. A feline body with a human face, Robespierre was a dramatic reincarnation of the monster who devoured the young men of Thebes. But, as the Sphinx of the Jacobins, Robespierre became a monster whose riddle was never quite solved. Michelet describes his strategy as “so obscure Robespierrists were constantly misled” (2: 596).

            Historians have striven to understand the enigma of the sphinx, with varying degrees of success. As Jean-Joseph Goux remarks: “The Sphinx is a ‘head-chopper’. This gives us something to reflect upon. She kills by decapitation to take the soul beyond.”[1] The Sphinx, one recalls, was a female monster – le sphinx or la sphinge – and Robespierre, the man who would soon be represented as the dictator responsible for all the beheadings of the Terror, was also endowed by posterity with an enigmatic sexuality. Known for his austere and celibate life, he became feminized by writers and historians alike. Michelet described him as “more delicate and more feminine” than his sister. (2: 61).

            Although his clothes were not the topic of much discussion during his life (during the Revolution, he apparently owned no more than three coats), the extraordinary emphasis given by all writers to his habit of dress also suggests the feminization of the monster. Madame de Staël notes: “He was not badly dressed; on the contrary, he alone wore a powdered wig and his clothes were neat” (pp. 140-41). Ferrières noted that Robespierre “dressed and powdered with immaculate elegance” (p. 135). Nodier, more maliciously and more explicitly, wrote: “Add to this all the trappings of stuffy, prudish, pouting coquetry, and you will almost have him” (pp. 191-92). Hilaire Belloc dedicated a long page to Robespierre’s sober elegance and concluded with words that could apply to an Ancien Regime marquise: “A figure slight but erect and sufficiently well filled, a little dainty and always exquisitely fitted, not disdainful of color but contemptuous of ornament.”[2]

            The feminization of Robespierre’s voice also deserves consideration. It is ironic that one of the most successful orators of the Revolution was alleged to have had such a strange mode of speech, “hoarse when low, false when the tone was high, and which in moments of intense excitement or anger turned into a howling rather like that of hyenas.”[3] A howling, perhaps, yet a chant impossible to escape. The seductiveness of Robespierre’s strange voice and eloquence, although unexplained, was begrudgingly acknowledged. Nodier admits, in another reference to Antiquity: “The sirens caused the death of the lovers who were drawn to them by the charm of their concerts; but antiquity does not accuse them of having sung badly” (p. 187). Taine, less willing to be seduced, would write that Robespierre could only “moan” or “foam with rage” (3: 210).

            These uneasy accounts of Robespierre’s strange voice also echo the inexpressible voice attributed to the Sphinx when she called on the young men she was about to devour. It was an indescribable sound, comparable to “a rhapsody,” “a song difficult to understand,” notes Marie Delcourt[4]. In Euripides’s words, it was “a song without a lyre, strange to the Muses,” sometimes compared to a muffled rumbling of thunder[5]. In a few decades the posthumous construct of Robespierre’s identity took place: he had become a devouring monster whose voice, simultaneously seductive and horrifying, would lead the country to a bloodbath.

---

[1] Jean-Joseph Goux, Oedipe philosophe (Paris: Aubier, 1990), p. 63.

[2] Hilaire Belloc, Robespierre (New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1902), p. 11.

[3] Nodier, Portraits de la Révolution, I: 191.

[4] Marie Delcourt, Oedipe ou la légende du conquérant (Paris: Droz, 1944), p. 133.

[5] Jean-Joseph Goux gives an illuminating analysis of the Sphinx’s voice in Oedipe philosophe, pp. 53-55.

 (And by the way, icon!Maxime would like to point out that he is not a sphinx. Or a siren. Or anything at all that is a mythical creature and/or female.)

Comments

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

And by the way, icon!Maxime would like to point out that he is not a sphinx. Or a siren. Or anything at all that is a mythical creature and/or female
ROTFLMAO.

Beyond the stupidity of what is said: what a beautiful article. The part on the feminization: wow. I need to re-use that reference someday. Was it originally in French? What year? I NEED TO WRITE SOMETHING ON THAT OMG. But I have two big researches with big bibliography work to prepare this session, so I can't. ;O;!!!

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

XD He's also rather confused as to why anyone would think that.

I know, isn't it? The feminization is right on, definitely; and one could say much the same about Saint-Just's posthumous image. Strangely enough, given the author's name, it was originally in English--and it was published in 1997. If you get the chance, I would recommend the book generally (which, given the fact that it was originally published in English, makes it a very rare find indeed).

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Oh, Maxime. Stop being so mythological. D:

...>____>

Siren!Maxime. And her paperwork.

Sorry.

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS SO BEAUTIFUL HORRIBLE. OMSB. XDDDD

[josiana.livejournal.com]

At least he isn't a sphinx. :D;;;

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

He would still have horrible boobs as a sphinx. They're so creepy. D:!!!!

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Er. Yes. >___> I think it's because the nipples are green.

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

Er. Yes. It's TOTALLY that. But it makes sense, because he has green blood.

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Well, they are kind of disturbing for just existing, but... XD Yes. He is a vulcan/siren crossbreed.

[trf-chan.livejournal.com]

...OMFG. XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD FOR THE WIN.

And now I'm imagining Maxime singing "Under the Sea." Even though that was a mermaid, not a siren. D:

[josiana.livejournal.com]

:D; :D; :D;;; Thank you.

He looks more like a mermaid anyway. ^^; But they do the same thing. Really. Er. I'm sure Maxime would sing a much more virtuous version of it, though.

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

*dies laughing* Poor Maxime. He, er, *she*'s so color-coordinated though. XDDD

[josiana.livejournal.com]

It's her equivalent of being fashionably dressed. >__>

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

So like an "Ancien Regime marquise"!siren? XD

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Maybe. I don't know how that would apply to a siren. D:

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

It's all right; I can't imagine that it would make sense for her to be anything other than green though. And she is very amusing, in an unfortunate sort of way. (Which reflects the myth and its patheticness, rather than on your art, which is, as usual, lovely. :D)

[josiana.livejournal.com]

She could be tricolor. :O ...I don't think that would be as easy to color, though.
(:D Thank you. I'm sure it would be better if I spent more time on it. >__>)

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

That's true, but that would make her less mythical and more in character (if that's possible, given the fact that she is a siren and Maxime was, in fact, not). >__> (It's nice the way it is. ^__^ Though I would like to know what she's pointing at...)

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Er. Yes. That would be a problem. >_> (I don't know. I think she's just explaining something in the paperwork while gesturing vaguely.)

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

I thought it was like the Socrates!pointing in David's painting. D:

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

It does sort of look like that, but the hand is inverted...

[josiana.livejournal.com]

She isn't muscular enough for that. ;___;
David is messing with my brain without my knowledge, oh noes. ;o;

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Well, in some ways... (Oh, okay. That maks sense.)

[josiana.livejournal.com]

People might think I was serious. D: (Sorry. ;_; It should have been more profound.)

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Oh, I doubt that, given the context. (It's all right; not everything has to be, you know.)

[josiana.livejournal.com]

You never know. :O (I know. ;_; I'm just particular about that kind of thing.)

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Presumably if they read the post no one would misunderstand the drawing... (Next time you can give Maxime hand-gestures with symbolism. :D?)

[josiana.livejournal.com]

Probably not. (Yes. XD He'll be giving a peace sign, or something.)

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

(That would be amusing. It would represent his anti-war stance, certainly. XD)

[trf-chan.livejournal.com]

Now, that description of Maxime "moaning" during his speeches is just silliness and we all know it. Saint-Just would obviously draw the line at giving him a blow job while he was speaking of Very Serious Issues in front of large numbers of people. Duh, Taine. :O

Still very interesting. Thanks, as always, for posting! =D I actually just ordered Mourning Glory today. XD

[maelicia.livejournal.com]

Saint-Just would obviously draw the line at giving him a blow job while he was speaking of Very Serious Issues in front of large numbers of people.
...XDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD Are you sure?

[estellacat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for that very interesting image. XDDD It would have been awkward if Saint-Just were doing that, I should think.

I'm glad you like it--I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the rest of the book. And this particular chapter gets even more, um, interesting, if you want to call it that. Unfortunately, this is the last section that focuses exclusively on Maxime's appearance though.