Le roi Saül, personnage théâtral au théâtre français, du Moyen Âge à Voltaire
The figure of King Saul in French theatre since the Middle Ages to Voltaire

Summary/Abstract: The article analyses the figure of the Biblical King Saul in early French theatre. First, it considers various theatrical forms reworking the Biblical story in the dramatic mode, from the medieval mystery play to the dramas written in accordance with the classical rules, which show the protagonist on the verge of death. The playwrights discussed in the article particularly emphasize two aspects of the character: that of a father and of a king. In all the plays considered, the central focus is the spiritual drama of the cursed king, who questions divine justice, as it was often the case in ancient tragedy. Despite numerous versions, additions and sometimes significant changes to the original story, King Saul in early French theatre turns out to be quite a faithful rendering of the Biblical Saul from the Books of Samuel.

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