La Fausse Suivante, ou la dynamique du triangle

Abstract

The dramaturgy of Marivaux’s comedy La Fausse Suivante weaves the relationships of its characters into a triangular shape. It is a changing inter-action due to the presence of masks hiding their truth. This system of unstable triangles’ axis is the triple identity of the comedy’s main character, allowing her to change her initial position of coveted victim, into leading the action of the rest of the characters, creating the evidence that unveils their artifices and teaches everyone a moral lesson. This comedy, with its path of psychological tests and theatre within theatre, fully represents the theatrical features of Marivaux, which combine humour with issuing an appeal for humanized interpersonal relations.