Purity and nature in Paul Valéry’s “Cantate du Narcisse narcisse”

Abstract

In this paper, we will approach Paul Valéry’s (1871-1945) “Cantate” from the point of view of a study of its main character, Narcissus himself. After a first moment where we will study the structure of the verses of the play as well as its search for a balanced composition, we will then turn to the relationship between Narcissus and the Nymphs and, finally, to his opposition to the gods who condemn him for his love without measure. We will show how Narcissus in the “Cantate” manifests one of Valéry’s more recurrent subjects (the search of purity in its opposition to nature), a preoccupation that appears in other moments of his work as well.